Tahoe Residents Urged to Stay Bear Aware This Winter as Bears Remain Active

The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT) is reminding residents and visitors that not all bears in the Lake Tahoe Basin will hibernate this winter, especially if they have access to human food sources. While winter brings snow and colder weather, bears that continue to find garbage, bird feeders, and pet food may stay active, leading to increased human-bear conflicts.

Hibernation is directly tied to food availability, and bears naturally go into dormancy when resources dwindle. However, human attractants can disrupt this cycle, creating a dependency on harmful, unnatural food sources. The result has been a significant number of home invasions and property damage reports during the holiday season.

In November and December of 2023, Placer County alone saw 47 home invasions, with other counties, including El Dorado, Douglas, and Washoe, reporting similar incidents. In total, there were 98 reports of property damage across California and Nevada within the Lake Tahoe Basin during this period.

To prevent further conflicts, TIBT urges residents and visitors to:

• Use bear-resistant garbage cans year-round.
• Remove bird feeders and pet food from outside.
• Secure crawl spaces to prevent bears from denning.
• Install electric deterrents like mats or wires.
• Clear food from unoccupied homes.

Living in bear country is a privilege that requires year-round responsibility. For non-emergency bear incidents, contact CDFW in California at 916-358-2917 or NDOW in Nevada at 775-688-BEAR.

Learn more about how to protect bears and your property at TahoeBears.org and BearWise.org.