El Nino helped Nev. bears avoid urban hazards
By Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette-Journal
El Nino is long gone for now but its legacy remains, at least when it comes to Nevada bears.
So far this year the rate at which bears are being struck by cars or otherwise handled by wildlife officials is lower than in previous years with drier winters.
According to the Nevada Department of Wildlife there have been just five bears struck by cars in 2016, compared to 19 last year and 18 in 2014. So far this year NDOW has handled 48 bears, compared to 114 last year and 140 in 2014.