Holiday PSA: Tahoe Bears May Have Christmas Spirit

The following is courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Tahoe Bears Remain Active in Fall, Winter Months

Keep Tahoe Bears Wild!

The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT) hopes this winter season brings lots of cheer, warm memories, and time for rest and relaxation. However, it is not a time to let your guard down when it comes to living in or recreating responsibly in bear country. It’s important to keep in mind not all bears in the Lake Tahoe Basin will hibernate. We must all work together to ensure human attractants are properly stored to keep Tahoe bears wild! 

Hibernation is firmly related to resource availability. As natural food supplies continue to dwindle and snow gradually blankets the basin, bears should naturally go into hibernation to save energy and resources. However, bears that continue to find and access unnatural food sources like garbage, bird feeders, pet food, and other human attractants may bypass hibernating altogether and stay active through the winter. This can create a reliance on human food that can be harmful for bears.

Last year, during the months of November and December, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) responded to numerous home invasions of both occupied and unoccupied residences.

In November 2023, Placer County residents experienced 28 home invasions; El Dorado County residents experienced 20 home invasions; Douglas County residents experienced six home invasions; and Washoe County residents experienced seven home invasions. In December 2023, Placer County had 19 home invasions; El Dorado County had nine home invasions; Douglas County had four home invasions; and Washoe County had five home invasions.

In total, there were 76 reports of property damage on the California side of the Tahoe Basin and 22 reports of property damage on the Nevada side in November and December 2023.

These numbers serve as a significant reminder that black bears are still very active throughout the holiday season. TIBT asks that residents and visitors take steps to secure homes and remove attractants.

Living, visiting, and recreating in bear country is a privilege that comes with year-round responsibilities. Here are just a few ways to help keep Tahoe bears wild into the winter months:

• Use bear-resistant garbage cans year-round.
• Remove bird feeders and pet food from outside.
• Block access to crawl spaces to prevent bears from using it as a winter den. Watch this video for helpful information on how to secure crawl spaces.
• Install electric mats or wires where possible.
• Remove food from unoccupied homes.

To report bear incidents or conflicts in the Lake Tahoe Basin, use the following:

• In California, contact CDFW at 916-358-2917 or report online using the Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) system at apps.wildlife.ca.gov/
• Non-emergency bear collisions in California State Parks can be reported to its public dispatch at 916-358-1300
• In Nevada, contact NDOW at 775-688-BEAR (2327)
• If the issue is an emergency, call the local sheriff’s department or 911.

Learn more about keeping Tahoe bears wild at TahoeBears.org and BearWise.org.