Garbage bears staying awake during winter
By Jeff DeLong, Reno Gazette-Journal
That Christmas visitor to Troy Brown’s place wasn’t Santa, it was a bear.
And that bear captured by wildlife officials in South Reno, like another in the same spot six days before, was demonstrating behavior noted by wildlife experts for more than a decade now – at a time of year when the animals are usually lying down for a winter’s nap, many remain awake and on the prowl in search of food.
For the black bears of western Nevada, hibernation has become optional.
“You can keep bears up during the winter if you feed them,” said Jon Beckmann, a biologist and bear expert with the Wildlife Conservation Society.
And feeding them we are, primarily with garbage.
That same human-provided food source that has led to mounting conflict between people and bears across the Reno-Tahoe area is not only making bears bigger, it’s also altering fundamental aspects of their behavior.
Excellent article about bears staying awake during winter! Please read the whole article.
If talking to the neighbor about bears in their trash gets you nowhere call The Bear League at
525-7297. They have lots of information that you’ll find helpful. If that does’nt work get govt. agencies involved with a phone call and they can, and will, force the people to get a bear resistant can or can enclosure (bear box).
Bears behavior has changed alot over the years.They are no longer afraid of humans or getting into trash in a busy neighborhood,even doring broad daylight.
So please read the article all the way thru and follow the advice given. A fed bear is a dead bear. OLS
Thanks OLS I was going to say the same thing,Education ,read up.
Like I always say… We don’t have problem bears in the area, we have problem people.
/hops off soapbox