Opinion: Calling NDOW about bears could get the animal killed

To the community,

The Nevada Department of Wildlife has a little-publicized Three Strikes policy that broadly affects anyone who lives in bear country.

According to Mike Dobel, NDOW game supervisor, “A bear shall be humanely killed if, despite the application of deterrent methods, has been captured or otherwise handled three (3) times by NDOW to resolve nuisance concerns.” He further adds “A bear shall be humanely killed if it demonstrates three (3) times a loss of wariness of humans displayed through three (3) captures near permanent structures, buildings or dwellings frequently used by humans.”

Bears face three-strike law in Nevada. Photo/Mark Smith

That this means is, if you call the sheriff or NDOW because of a bear in your neighborhood, NDOW records a “strike” against that bear, and the third time the bear is killed. NDOW further classifies “to resolve nuisance concerns” anytime they must respond to a call, regardless of how benign the bear’s actions are. A bear in the tree in the forest near your home, strike one. A bear crosses the street to get into the woods, strike two. A bear nibbling on the bird seed you put out, strike three — and it is dead.

As the BEAR League says, “A fed bear is a dead bear.” And I would add, “think before you call NDOW.”

Don’t let them keep executing bears for doing what bears do. Only call if the bear is a threat or doing serious damage.

Mark Smith, Incline Village