It's that time again. Hungry bears are coming out of hibernation with only one thing on their minds - food. If you live in the mountains around Lake Tahoe, the food they come looking for may be yours. Long-time Tahoe residents already know this, but people new to the area should know what to do if black bears decide your house and property are their newest diner. Not only is knowing how to deal with bears vital for human safety, it is critical for keeping these magnificent animals wild and safe as well.

This is not a trivial problem and it is trending the wrong way. In 2006, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) received 350 bear complaints; it grew to 1,531 in 2007. The NDOW Be Bear Aware website shows bear country residents how to stay safe, minimize bear trouble, and keep wild bears wild. The NDOW Dispatch Center in Reno now has a hotline for reporting bear problems - (775) 688-BEAR (2327).

If you live in Reno / Sparks and don't think this applies to you, think again. As reported recently in the Reno Gazette-Journal, a bear was sighted chowing down on garbage next to a home in the Evans Creek subdivision of southwest Reno. Other parts of Reno also get ursine visitors, and there's no reason it won't keep happening.

The Bear League at Lake Tahoe has more information about living with bears, learning about bears, and eliminating unpleasant encounters. The phone number is (530) 525-PAWS (7297).