Bears, trash, people a growing problem in Incline
By Jim Carlton, Wall Street Journal
INCLINE VILLAGE — When Brent and Benét Terry moved into their new home in this upscale Lake Tahoe community recently, they were surprised to meet one of the neighbors: a black bear that had taken up residence in a culvert across the street.
“He’s a pretty good-sized boy,” said Brent Terry, a 61-year-old retired airline pilot. “I’m surprised he can even get in there.”
Incline Village is crawling with bears. As of early this month, there were 66 reported sightings this year in the town of some 9,000 people — up 38 percent from all of last year—and the animals are wreaking havoc. Homes and cars have been broken into and innumerable garbage bins and dumpsters pawed through.
The bears’ attraction to garbage appears to be the crux of the problem, most residents agree. But they are divided over both the proposed long-term solution — a mandate to use more-expensive bear-proof garbage containers — and whether to handle their burly neighbors with tough love or lethal force.
Nevada wildlife officials and private bear-removal services advocate trapping and relocating the animals, frightening them with aversion techniques and, as a last resort, killing them. Bear-friendly activists endorse scaring off bears by yelling and rattling cans of rocks, but not killing them.
“The bears are dying for the transgressions of people,” said Ann Bryant, executive director of BEAR League, a bear-friendly group whose mission is “helping bears and people live peacefully in this world together.”
Its so easy to just scare the bears away, I have lived near them, and shouting to them, and being tough and they know it, Is the answer, Ann has done a beautiful job not seeing these bears being killed, and saving them ,But It takes common sense to Educate your self ,I mean yourself about Bear country, If you live in Bear country,or wanting to , then you need to know facts about bears, Its common sense,Please lets stop this hearing about how many have been killed, Its just a few moments to learn about Bear country, and stop the bear hunt,We all live here and there here ,Its so simple to just get Educated and learn,You moved here to know there are Bears here ,Did you not? lets enjoy what we have here and protect them as they are your belongings here in the forest, Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to all including the bears, Please watch those pumpkin pies ,Bears love them wrap them up any food in a safe place to throw away ,keep the Bears and cubs safe,
Kathy, I’ve been scaring bears away for years just by loudly clapping my hands and shouting. Some of the bears are so habituated to humans now that sometmes loud noises aren’t enough to get them out of the neighbors trash. If noise doesn’t work I use a slingshot with rocks for ammo. Aim for the side and hind quarters. Always leave the exiting bear PLENTY of room to get away so they don’t feel cornered with no where to go.
Tell your neighbors to keep their trash indoors until garbage pick up day, very important, as this will also keep out the racoons and coyotes. Don’t kill the bears! Take care, Old Long Skiis
My husband chased one down the street throwing pine cones at him. It was pretty funny, actually.
These articles about bears in Incline repeat themselves monthly and yearly. Always the same thing—-naughty bears addicted to garbage. Bite the bullet and mandate bear boxes. Its a one time expense that most people living in Incline can probably afford. For mountain residents who need help buying a bear box, the cost could be prorated on the property tax bill. There is a way to get this done. Enough hand-wringing.
Old Long Skiis, you continue to be part of the problem. You should be reporting bears in trash cans to the trash company and Clean Tahoe. They can and will force people to install bear boxes. Put your sling shot away and pick up the phone!
Isn’t it amazing how a wealthy community like Incline won’t force every home and business to have bear boxes and fine the heck out of those who don’t. Just look at the example of Aspen, cut off the access to trash by bears and then like magic, no bear problems. Wake up! and this goes for South Lake Tahoe also, both the county and city.
Steven, What I was suggestioning for simple aversion techniques was something that people can do on their own. I’m trying to be part of the solutiuon to fix the problem.If the bear keeps coming back to the same house spreading garbage everywhere, there yard, your yard and onto the street , then talk to the neighbor about securing his trash from animals. Keeping his trash indoors till pick up day. If that person won’t do that then tell them about bear proof cans that are avaiable at Scottys Hardware. They go for abot 100 bucks a piece but work pretty good. If the iresponsble neighbor won’t do that, tell them about a bear box. Expensive but properly latched they will keep the bear out. If they go that route they should buy the best made one they can find. Some on the market are poorly constructed and won’t last long. The same goes for bear proof dumpsters if here latched and are well built the bear won’t get inside.
Calling South Tahoe Refuse or Clean Tahoe won’t do much except maybe get you refered to a govt. agency. They wiil either try thru aversion, trapping and relocating or as a last resort shoot the bear, if it’s the problem bear or not. The local garbage co. and Clean Tahoe are here to take away your trash, they are NOT responsible for the person who doesn’t know or doesn’t care to make their trash secured from animals.
With all that being said I wish all the readers of LTN and ” the commenters”, (some funny, some well informed, and some just plain demented) a Happy Thanksgiving.
As always, take care, Old Long Skiis
This is test to see what I’m sending gets printed. I responded to Stevens remark about bears but now it’s nowhere to be found. A screen popped up and said it was spam. So this is only a test. Thanks, OLS
Clean Tahoe will do something! They are great… If your neighbor refuses to practice good garbage habits (like my former neighbor), take a picture & email it to Clean Tahoe with the address. They will deliver educational material, plus a warning. I think if there are more than 2 complaints, a bear box purchase is required. My new neighbor bought a screw-top can that seems to work very well (as he also had a couple break-ins).
Clean Tahoe is a South Lake Tahoe organization. I don’t know if Incline has anything like it. SLT does get some things right!
Irish Wahini, Thanks for the info about clean Tahoe! I didn’t know the people with a bear problem could be forced to get a bear box after being warned a few times. I’ve had neighbors who refused to take care of this problem of the bears getting into their trash. If I’d known I would have called Clean Tahoe. Thanks and Have a Happy Thanksgiving.OLS
Clean-Tahoe.org is their website. 530-544-4210 is their tel #. Make sure to get the offender’s address so they can follow up. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Steven, I stand corrected, you were right. Clean Tahoe does have the authority to make people get a bear box after a couple of warnings. I spoke with Jeff from Clean Tahoe this past summer as he was taping a citation to a vacation home for trash left in the front yard. We talked for awhile and he gave me some paper work to read. I didn’t read it at the time but just came across it and it spells it out quite clearly. I’m glad I finally read it.
Garbage cans are not to be visible from the street. I immediately moved my cans into the back yard just now. I will inform my neighbors of this ordinance as well,(but not on thanksgiving day! LOL). As far as the sling shot goes I’ll keep it handy for the roaming bruins. But will call Clean Tahoe when the need arises. Take care, OLS
Paintball gun. Very effective and lots of fun. You too can be Rambo in your neighborhood.