Bears In The News

[AZLOT69]

Eight Foraging Bears Killed In Tahoe


Posted: 9:44 am PDT June 11, 2010
Updated: 10:02 am PDT June 11, 2010

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. -- The heavy snow and lingering winter conditions in the Sierra are forcing black bears into the valleys around Lake Tahoe, where an unusually large number of them have had to be put to death in recent weeks.

Nevada Department of Wildlife biologist Carl Lackey says officials already killed eight bears this spring, compared with a typical death toll of just one or two by this time.

"I attribute that to the late winter weather conditions," he said.

Unlocked food or trash lures the bears into trouble in cars and homes. Adding to the problem, Lackey said, is Washoe County has no ordinance requiring bear-proof trash receptacles.

Hot spots are centered near South Lake Tahoe, Tahoma and Highway 89 near the Squaw Valley and Alpine ski resorts.

Cristen Langner, a wildlife biologist for California Fish and Game, said the California side of the Tahoe basin has had three permitted bear deaths this year, which is not uncommon for this time. Each of the deaths was also a result of residents not locking up food trash or food, she said.

Langner echoed Lackey's words of caution and said residents should always be bear-aware and keep doors locked and food secure.

"The big thing is that every time these bears are successful (finding stored trash or food) it just reinforces that behavior," she said.

Ann Bryant, president of the Homewood-based BEAR League, said she's concerned about the death toll.

"I'm pretty shocked because it's only going to get worse as the season goes on," she said.

Bryant said based on calls, sightings and onsite observations, the BEAR League has observed more newborns this year than any other, as well as an increased number of sightings and conflicts.

Usually bears aren't spotted out of hibernation until May or June, Bryant said, but she's seen them as early as March and April this year.

[Alston_Neal]

@The_Eagle
Don't forget to post photos of your "hiking".

[Pivo]

[Pivo]

Black bear killed after attacking 15-year-old boy in eastern Arizona.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/lo ... 845398007/

[The_Eagle]

@Pivo
[ youtube video ]

[Pivo]

@The_Eagle
AZG&F didn't have to shoot that bear, could have used the honeypot technique to take it out.

[Alston_Neal]

@The_Eagle
Was the suit hot? Asking for Chums.

[The_Eagle]

@Alston_Neal
In my opinion, I looked hot, so yes.

[FOTG]

[big_load]

Mrs. big_load saw a bear today on the side of the highway near home. It was lying down and was being attended to, probably after being hit by a car. She wasn't optimistic about its prospects.

[azbackpackr]

@Pivo
I'm just amazed that they realize that Alpine is in eastern Arizona, not Northern Arizona, as they normally would have said if they are from Phoenix. Oh, glad the boy will be okay although I imagine PTSD will follow him the rest of his life.

[LosDosSloFolks]

Being a guitar player, this brought a chuckle...

[hikeaz]

@LosDosSloFolks
Related to Hendrix? What with the right-handed guitar played lefty.

[LosDosSloFolks]

@hikeaz
Good eye.

[DixieFlyer]

Here is a link to a quiz from Montana Fish and Wildlife that will test your ability to distinguish a grizzly bear from a black bear:
https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/bear-identification

[LindaAnn]

@DixieFlyer
They should have the Forest Service folks in Idaho take the test. Just recently, FS looked at a video of a bear, said it was a black bear, told some guy he could shoot it. The guy shot it, and realized it was a grizzly, which he had suspected in the first place. FS was like “oops, our bad, you won’t be facing any charges.”

[joebartels]

I got 80%, but certain I'd get 100% anywhere I hike

[big_load]

I hope this wasn't a grizzly. The swim team parents would freak out. (It was on the edge of the lake during swim practice on a very hot day).

[Nighthiker]

Game and Fish were out a couple of years ago to "harvest" problem bears East of Payson. To prevent mistakes, I image that during the field briefing the mission lead showed a picture of a bear raiding a garbage can and or picnic basket. He advised in a high pitched voice like Barney Fife that this is the problem bear. Showed a picture of furries and exclaimed they can be a problem but not our problem. Showed a picture of Smokey Bear and stated this looks like our problem but take note of the hat, Don't Harvest. And finally a picture of a Forest Ranger, known to mooch a sandwich from a cooler, again this is not our problem.

[Alston_Neal]

@Nighthiker
My take away is bears in hats...good........works for me.

[LindaAnn]

@DixieFlyer

Finally got to my computer to take that bear ID test, couldn’t do it on a phone, kind of neat, got 100%.