Tips for Avoiding Bear Encounters
From the Department of Fish and Game
Avoid Unwanted Encounters With Bears at Tahoe
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds people enjoying the Lake Tahoe Basin to take precautions to avoid bear encounters. This area is prime black bear habitat, and many of these wild animals are not afraid of humans. Recently, a bear had to be killed after a man in his tent was injured as the bear tried to break in.
Bears are constantly searching for food, which humans inadvertently make obtainable to them. It is important for everyone to avoid creating odors that attract bears. They are attracted not only to food but also perfume, cologne and containers that once held food.
Last year DFG staff logged more than 5,200 hours handling black bear nuisance calls in the Lake Tahoe region alone.Bears’ attempts to obtain human food cause the majority of public safety incidents involving bears. California’s growing black bear population is now estimated at more than 30,000.
Access to human food or garbage, whether it is overflowing from a campground or residential dumpster or in the form of snacks in a tent, is the most common bear attractant. When wild animals are allowed to feed on human food and garbage, they lose their natural ways – often resulting in death for the animal.
Feeding wildlife or allowing wildlife access to human food provides unnatural food sources, habituates animals to humans and can change animal behavior from foraging for food in the wild to relying on human food sources in or near urban areas, which can lead to bears breaking into cars or houses to seek out food. It is also illegal to intentionally
feed wildlife in California.
Bear Country Precautions:
● Keep a close watch on children and teach them what to do if they encounter a bear.
● While hiking, make noise to avoid a surprise encounter with a bear.
● Never keep food in your tent.
● Use bear-proof garbage cans whenever possible or store your garbage in a secure location with your food. Garbage should be packed out of camp if no trash receptacles are available.
● Never approach a bear or pick up a bear cub.
● If you encounter a bear, do not run; instead, face the animal,
make noise, try to appear as large as possible. If attacked, fight back.
California Department of Fish and Game Contact:
Jason Holley, DFG Supervising Wildlife Biologist, (916) 212-1663
Please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/bear.htmlfor more information
