Being Bear Aware in Tahoe

Being Bear Aware in Tahoe: Essential Tips for Safety and Conservation

The bears in Tahoe have become a familiar sight for residents and visitors alike, but their relaxed presence around humans should never be mistaken for tame behavior. Tahoe bears are highly adaptable and have learned that people often leave out food and trash, making these places easy feeding grounds. This behavior has helped establish a perception of them as “friendly,” yet it’s crucial to remember that they remain wild animals. Respecting their space and following local guidelines can keep both humans and bears safe.

Here are some essential ways to be bear aware in Tahoe:

1. Secure All Trash and Food

Bears are opportunistic eaters, and unsecured trash is like an open invitation. When bears rummage through garbage, it leads to dangerous situations for them and creates a mess for the community. Additionally, a diet of human food and garbage is terrible for a bear’s health, leading to malnutrition and illness. To keep bears away, store garbage in bear-proof containers or keep trash secured indoors until it can be disposed of safely. Never leave food or trash outside, as it trains bears to seek out residential areas for meals.

2. Lock Your Car

Bears in Tahoe are known for their impressive ability to break into cars. Each year, many cars are damaged as bears smell food inside and force their way in, sometimes causing extensive damage. To prevent these costly and potentially dangerous encounters, lock your car doors and remove all food and scented items. Even seemingly harmless items like gum or chapstick can attract a bear’s attention, so clear out your vehicle completely.

3. Secure Doors and Windows

Tahoe’s bears are highly resourceful and have learned to check homes for easy entry points, including doors and windows. Leaving them unlocked can result in bears entering homes, often causing damage and even potential danger for anyone inside. Make it a habit to keep all windows and doors securely locked, especially in areas where bear activity is common.

4. Let Bears Be Aware of YOU!

When hiking or taking your morning walk, it is not just important that you are aware of the bears around you, you need to make them aware of you. Do not try to take your neighborhood route too quietly.  Make a little noise to let bears and coyotes know you are there.  

5. Consider a Bear Electric Fence System

For homeowners who have experienced persistent bear issues—like damaged doors or broken windows—a bear electric fence system can provide an effective solution. Commercially made shock pads and wires can be placed across windows and doors, delivering a mild shock that deters bears without causing harm. These systems are reliable, humane, and effective when installed correctly, offering peace of mind for homeowners in high-bear-activity zones.

It is also crucial to secure decks with hog fencing and ensure crawlspace doors are locked.  Bears do hibernate in crawlspaces.

6. Avoid Dangerous DIY Solutions

One of the most dangerous “solutions” homeowners sometimes attempt is placing boards with nails in front of doors or windows. Not only can this cause severe injury to bears, but it’s also a major liability. If a board with nails injures an emergency responder, postal worker, or city worker, the homeowner could be held legally responsible. Nail boards are especially risky when snow covers them, as they become hidden hazards for anyone approaching the property.

Instead of harmful DIY measures, consider more humane and legal deterrents like electric fencing or bear-proof trash cans.

Final Reminder: Respect Tahoe’s Bears

Bears are an essential part of Tahoe’s ecosystem, and it’s a privilege to live alongside them. By practicing responsible habits and showing respect for their natural behavior, Tahoe residents and visitors can contribute to bear conservation while protecting themselves and their property. Remember, a bear’s curiosity isn’t an invitation to approach or engage with it; stay alert, be mindful of your surroundings, and keep Tahoe’s bears wild and healthy.


Photographing Tahoes Bears

Bears are commonly seen October through November early mornings near Taylor Creek, where the Kokanee salmon spawn