Incline residents discuss ways not to encourage problem bears
By Alyx Sacks, KRNV-TV
The Nevada Department of Wildlife had to euthanize four bears this year in Incline Village and all of those cases started with bears getting into people’s garbage.
Community members want to find out how to stop that from happening.
One point that was made loud and clear in a bear subcommittee meeting Monday is it’s time Nevadans become more “bear smart.”
“The vast majority of Nevadans, 74 percent to 20 percent wants the state to prioritize solving conflict between bears and humans non lethally,” bear committee member Kathryn Bricker says.
Community members and NDOW bear subcommittee members say they want to find ways to stop problems with bears before they start.
“It should be addressed before there’s a problem not wait till there’s a problem to help with a solution,” Lake Tahoe resident Leann Dyer says.
One solution, being smarter with trash.
Right now residents in Incline Village are not required to have a bear container.
Only after complaints does the county step in and ask a container to be used and if they have to impose a fine.
NDOW subcommittee Chairman David McNinch says they called the meeting to learn and see what has worked in other communities as far as keeping bears out of the garbage and away from homes.
“Maybe we don’t have to reinvent the wheel maybe there’s some things that are being done in other places we can take advantage of and implement here in this community and that might make the difference,” Chairman McNinch says.
Some states have a one dump system thus resolving the problem of trash near the home.
Others require bear containers.
During the meeting, one college student even volunteered the idea of college students walking around neighborhoods just to spread bear smart information so people can learn about the right precautions.
All ideas to stop the number of complaints, incidents and ways people can be a part of the solution by adjusting habits.
“It’s not a bear problem it’s a human problem we need to co-exist with the bears,” Dyer says.
Chairman McNich says the discussion was a good start and he hopes to have more meetings like this in the future.
Most of my neighbors are bear-savvy. One was sloppy with his trash and the bear came & made a mess. Speaking to the neighbor did not help. In SLT, you call or email “Clean Tahoe” (part of the SLT Public Works Dept I believe), and they vvisit the address & leave educational brochures. After the 3rd complaint, the resident has to purchasee a Bear Box. Our neighbor now has a bear box.
I do think it would be smart if all new garbage customers received an educational brochure about garbage & bears. The educational brochure could be included in the garbage bill once a year!
I wonder what this is: Some states have a one dump system thus resolving the problem of trash near the home.