Later trash pick up best thing for Tahoe bears
By Cheryl Millham
The problems of bears and garbage have gotten worse over the past 15 or so years.
Put yourself in a bear’s mind for the next few minutes. It’s about 5:30am with no humans and no cars in sight. You (the bear) walk around the corner and the street ahead of you has bear-size bowls (trash cans) at every house. How kind the humans are to feed me out of these wonderful bear-size bowls or easy to open plastic bags.
Now I don’t have to go out of my way to forage out in the forest all day. Never mind the mess I make. The humans will clean it up.
This is the thinking of a bear.
Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care starts getting calls about “bad bears” because of situations like this. People want us to come and take the bears back out to the forest. We try to educate the public that we are in the forest and that the bears come to where the “easy” food source is located. We try to plead with them to not put their garbage out until just before it is to be picked up.
That will help solve the problem of bears coming around neighborhoods for food.
One comment we hear is, “I’m not going to get up out of bed at 5am to put out my trash. Period!” I can totally understand. I am not a morning person either, but, Tom gets all the trash ready the night before and at 5:15am on trash day, he gets up and takes it out. What a guy.
We have spoken with the South Tahoe Refuse company and asked if there were any way the trash pick-up hours – for residents – could be a little later in the morning. We were always told what a large job it would be to change all the pick-up routes and we were always told how sorry they were, but “no”.
About two weeks ago, as I was sorting through the mail, I threw out a flier from the refuse company, but noticed on the front cover a line (in red) that said there would be a change of pick-up hours. I was so excited I picked up the flier. This is monumental. I would encourage all South Lake Tahoe residents (and visitors) to get behind these new hours and clean up Tahoe’s trash problems.
The new hours started March 1. So, we all have time to figure out what time pick up will be at your house.
The male bears should start coming out of hibernation in the middle of March. If they find no garbage to eat, they should go back to the normal grazing on grasses, which should be plentiful then because of the rain we have received lately.
Another interesting fact is that if the sows don’t have all that food out of garbage cans to put on the extra weight, they should go back to having one cub and not 2 or 3.
So, come on Tahoe, let’s get behind the new pick-up times. You have no more excuses.
Oh, and one more thing, thank you South Tahoe Refuse.
Cheryl Millham is executive director of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.
Thanks Cheryl for your help in getting the word out. The change in time was a choice we made because as you said the problem kept getting worse. We were hopeful that bear proof containers and cans would help the problem, and in many ways did, but we still had a big problem. I have checked the routes this week, talked to my guys and the messes have been much less in the first 2 days. The guys on the routes are happy they are not picking up as many messes which helps them out. I do want to point out that are commercial trucks will still be starting at 5am as they need to get to businesses before a lot of them open. The next step, and one we have discussed with the city and counties, is to be able to charge extra to those residents that have a continuing trash problem. Warnings and information would be distributed first to the home owner and if the problem continues extra charges could then be placed. The money from these extra charges would then go to the counties and city to use for litter abatement programs. If everyone just waits to the morning of your pick-up to put the trash out the town will become a cleaner place and you will help our wildlife.
When I commented on Bill Kingmans “Then and Now” about a changing enviroment and old signs I mentioned Tarantino’s and the old amusement park with the go cart track on Fremont ave. The kid who worked for free just too drive a cart was none other than Jeff Tillman. There, the cats out of the bag!
I did a little better because around that same time, mid 60’s, I was working at Ski Run Marina for a dollar a day. Jeff loved cars and still does and I loved boats and still do.
I guess some things never change. OLS
New scientific evidence showing bear proof trash bins and food lockers work. When will the Tahoe basin wise up ?
http://news.yahoo.com/yosemite-outsmarts-food-stealing-bears-141029179.html
We too were glad to hear of the later trash pick up times BUT on Friday (our normal trash pick up day) the truck came by at the same time it always had – 5:30am. We had to run out to get our garbage out as we thought they would be two hours later. What’s up with that??
“The problems of bears and garbage have gotten worse over the past 15 or so years.”
Any guess why the problem was much smaller years ago? We had many more year round residents generating trash and few if any bear proof trash containers?
Ellen Booker:
Last Friday was February 28th and the new pick-up time started on March 1st. Sleep in next Friday!
Yeah! Kay was kind enough to point that little fact out to me. I was just so excited about the new time, I did not pay attention to the start date. Will definitely sleep in on Friday!
Like most of South Lake Tahoe, only about 20% of our neighborhood is full-timers. The weekend guests leave their cans at the curb when they depart on Sunday, never realizing the devastation they are doing to our bear population. I have begun taking photos of the mess and leaving Bear League brochures, to inform. I honestly believe no one wants to see a bear killed due to their own ignorance. It has been working.
As for South Tahoe Refuse, we moved here two years ago and we have been extremely pleased with the service we have received. This just makes me more appreciative of all they do.
On the educational flier sent to folks with bear problems, there should be a red-lined sentence for weekenders, asking them to take their wet garbage with them (off the hill when they leave). This should also be included with the refuse bill, as most weekenders are actually owners of the property(s).
My weekender neighbor finally bought a screw-top (bear resistant) garbage can, and we haven’t had bear garbage there ever since!
Bear proof trash bins is the answer ( you can’t fix stupid )
Why after all these years hasn’t the city provided inexpensive trash bins on a monthly payment plan ? Why let two or three trash can builds charge what they want and get away with it are we all stupid ?
Come on lake Tahoe get with it
I have lived in the same house near the Lake Tahoe Golf Course, at the edge of the forest for over 35 years. Never had a bear in my garbage. Always used Pine-Sol. I have cleaned up vacationer’s garbage for 35 years. I have never seen anyone have to pay for the mess that they cause. I know several people who have installed “bear-proof” garbage boxes, the bears have started breaking into their homes now. There are no laws that can create common sense. IMHO, “bear proof” trash bins are NOT the answer. Ticketing and prosecuting existing laws regarding trash problems created by humans is the answer.
dumfounded, I’ve been through the same thing. Cleaning up other peoples garbage out in the street and trash the bear drug onto my property. I’ve talked with the folks who leave their trash out all week that the bears get into repeatedly. I’ve had some succses on my street getting my neighbors to keep their trash in the garage or in a fenced backyard. Most did but there are still a few holdouts who leave it open for the bears and in a few weeks when bear activity increases, that’s where the bear will go. Some people just never learn.
I’m glad to see there’s going to be warnings and then fines. The same people who pick up their trash after the bear leaves and then put the can right back where it was only to have it happen over and over again, just when the bear made a huge mess the night before. These folks need a warning and then a fine. Maybe that will get their attention!!!I’m tired of cleaning up after other peoples thoughtless behaviour. OLS (a retired, and tired, old garbageman)
It is illegal to put trash out more than 24hrs in advance. If your neighbors do this, call the city code enforcement, or Clean Tahoe or south tahoe refuse, they will take action and stop the problem.
Start being proactive people, sounds like old long skiis is finally tired of picking up after his neighbors, I’ve been telling him (through this site) for the past couple of years to call the authorities, maybe now he will.
Yes Steven, you said something like, “Long Skiis you’re babysitting your neighbors”. Well I took that to heart but continued with the “nice neighbor” approach with some succses. I didn’t want to be a snitch so I didn’t call clean tahoe or code enforcement about this and the bears kept coming. I’m going to be more proactive this year and may make some phone calls. Thanks for the good advice. I’m always learning something here at LTN. Thanks again, OLS
Trash problems, I talked to Janet at the county vacation rental office-530-621-5815, a local call. She said the Sheriff-530-573-3300
County Environmental Management-530-573-3450
Clean Tahoe-530-544-4210
are all involved in trash issues
Call them
In order to have a vacation rental license, an animal proof trash container is required or the management company may pick up the trash themselves.
Any other vacation rental problems, call Janet. She can tell you if any house has the required license, how many people can stay there, how many cars are allowed, noise ordinances and anything else.
You have to call.
I just thought that I should add to my comment that many of my neighbors have been extremely cooperative and responsive to my suggestions about handling their trash. I offered to take their garbage when they leave, but they have all started taking their garbage with them instead. Great neighborhood working together to solve problems, and without government assistance (or more laws that won’t be enforced). Solutions are best arrived at without stopping at the government store, IMHO. All the best.