Tag: Lake Tahoe news

Bear calls rise around Lake Tahoe as California, Nevada take different approaches

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Black bear walking through a pine forest near cabins and a mountain lake

Bear-related calls are on the rise around the Lake Tahoe region, with South Lake Tahoe police reporting 174 calls so far this year, compared with 97 during the same period last year. But because Lake Tahoe spans California and Nevada, how officials respond to bears can look very different depending on which side of the lake you’re on. In Nevada, wildlife officials have a unique tool at their disposal: a four-legged bear chaser named Badger. Badger is a Karelian Bear Dog trained to work alongside Nevada Department of Wildlife biologists. His job is to haze bears that have become too comfortable around people.

The goal isn’t to hurt the bear. Instead, the dogs create a negative association with people and encourage the bear to retreat back into the wild. “Using the dogs versus other tools makes a difference in the amount of time that they stay away from people, how quick they are to retreat from people when they’re encountered again,” said Becca Carniello, a Nevada Department of Wildlife game biologist. Nevada has used Karelian Bear Dogs since 2001, and officials say the dogs can help change how a bear responds the next time it encounters people. California uses a different toolbox. California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Cort Klopping says officers can use a range of hazing techniques, including yelling, making themselves appear larger, using air horns and other loud noisemakers.

In some cases, wildlife officials also use bean-bag guns or paintball guns. With bear activity increasing around Tahoe, that raises the question: Why not add a dog like Badger to California’s toolbox? Klopping says California has considered the approach but doesn’t see enough added benefit to justify it. “It’s something that has been successful for a lot of different departments in the past. It doesn’t seem like it’s really worth it necessarily for us. It doesn’t give us any more effectiveness than the other hazing techniques that we use to move the bears along,” Klopping said. The states may use different tools, but wildlife officials on both sides agree that hazing is only a temporary solution. “Anything we do with the bear, hazing the bear, it’s only a temporary behavior change.

The permanent solution has to come from people securing their trash,” Carniello said. That puts human behavior at the center of the issue. Unsecured garbage cans, pet food left outside and even a dirty barbecue grill can attract bears — and once a bear learns that people mean an easy meal, it can become increasingly comfortable coming back. “The attractants, you know, that goes for unsecured garbage cans, pet food left outside, even something as simple as not cleaning your grill after you use it,” Klopping said.

So while Nevada’s Badger can chase a bear away and people can haze one when it gets too close, wildlife officials say the best defense is preventing bears from finding a reason to stick around in the first place. For now, the message from wildlife officials remains the same: Different states may have different tools, but keeping bears wild starts with keeping human food and trash out of reach.

Source: Bear calls rise around Lake Tahoe as California, Nevada take different approaches – CBS Sacramento

With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Psalm 119:10

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Woman attacked by otter while swimming in Lake Tahoe, receives nearly 40 stitches

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playful river otter on log indoors

An open-water swimmer says a routine morning swim in Lake Tahoe turned into a frightening encounter when an otter attacked her underwater. Lynnette Bellin said she was swimming near Hidden Beach in Incline Village when something suddenly grabbed her leg and pulled her underwater. “Something grabbed my leg and pulled me under,” Bellin said. “And it was so powerful I thought it was a human.”

The attack happened around 8 a.m. as Bellin was swimming in an area she regularly visits. “I turned around and I saw this otter, and it immediately started lunging at me and biting and scratching,” Bellin said. Bellin fought back with her hands and feet while trying to reach a nearby set of rocks. “It was very painful,” she said. “Yeah, it was just ruthless. It just kept coming after me.” The first rocks Bellin reached were too slippery for her to climb onto. She yelled for help but said no one responded. She eventually made it to another set of rocks and was able to pull herself out of the water.

But the otter remained nearby. “Once I got out and he stopped pursuing me, he kept circling the area,” Bellin said. “I could hear his heavy breathing. It was very menacing.” Bellin eventually made her way back to the beach, where first responders treated her before she was taken to the hospital. She received nearly 40 stitches and began a series of rabies vaccinations. Experts say otter attacks are extremely rare Megan Isadore, executive director of the River Otter Ecology Project, said encounters between people and river otters rarely become violent. “We don’t always expect an attack when it happens,” Isadore said. She said one possible explanation is that Bellin may have unknowingly gotten too close to a mother otter and her young.

“They don’t know what we’re doing. They don’t know why we’re there,” Isadore said. “They can be frightened of us. They’re usually not after us.” Bellin said she doesn’t blame the otter for what happened, but the experience has made her reconsider where she swims. “It’s very disconcerting, but also I love Tahoe too much,” she said. There’s also an unusual connection between Bellin and the animal that attacked her. She’s an infant swim instructor and often uses a small otter toy while teaching children. After the attack, she said she may be ready to retire the toy from her classes.

Source: Woman attacked by otter while swimming in Lake Tahoe, receives nearly 40 stitches – CBS Sacramento

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

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Lake Tahoe bear damages vehicle after becoming trapped inside

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close up shot of a bear on the grass

A bear in the Lake Tahoe area significantly damaged a vehicle after it became trapped inside. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office recently responded to Incline Village after a person opened the door to their vehicle and discovered a bear was trapped inside. Deputies said the bear ran off quickly after the door was opened, but left behind significant damage. Pictures the sheriff’s office shared show the inside paneling ripped off from all doors.  “Situations like this can happen when bears gain access to food or scented items left in vehicles,” the Nevada Department of Wildlife said.  People in the Lake Tahoe area are urged to remove all food, trash and scented items from their vehicles. Officials also urge people to lock vehicle doors and keep the windows fully closed. Wildlife officials say bears that access human food can become conditioned to it, leading to an increase in possible future conflicts. Bear activity also increases in the Tahoe Basin during the spring. 

Source: Lake Tahoe bear damages vehicle after becoming trapped inside – CBS Sacramento

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15