Multiple bear sightings reported in Silver Oak; local bears are fattening up for winter, says NDOW

Multiple bear sightings have been noted in recent weeks by Silver Oak residents, who have found bear scat, disturbed trash cans, or in one case, a broken fence, after the visits from their furry neighbors.

According to Ashely Sanchez from the Nevada Department of Wildlife, at this time of the year, Hyperphagia is starting to kick in for black bears, which means its time for them to fatten up for winter.

“This is a period when they try to build up enough fat reserves to go into hibernation for the winter months,” said Sanchez. “This means anywhere along the foothills, both near the Carson Range and the Virginia Foothills, bears will be searching for an easy meal to build up the critical 25,000 daily calories they need.”

Whether people realize it or not, says Sanchez, humans are providing great resources from wildlife, whether it be from fruit trees and garbage to green grass an water sources located at golf courses.

“Any attractants that are not secured become a food reward, which not only causes the bear to return to that area for future visits, but also shows them it’s okay to approach humans for food,” said Sanchez.

This could become a safety hazard, as bears that become comfortable around humans may eventually lead to conflict over what they determine are their food resources.

These are guidelines people living in Bear Country can follow to help NDOW keep bears wild:

- Secure garbage to ensure bears don’t have access to unnatural foods. A wildlife resistant container is the best solution for securing garbage. If you have a wildlife resistant container, you don’t have to put your garbage into your garage and risk a bear wanting to break in to access it.  You can leave the container outside, and the bear won’t be able to get into it and will move on. We recommend placing these at least 25 feet from your home, so bears don’t associate the smell of garbage with your house. If you live in Washoe County or Carson, you can request a wildlife resistant container by contacting your local waste management. Douglas County residents can call Douglas Disposal for information about obtaining a wildlife resistant container. For those who don’t have one of these containers, keep your garbage in a secure structure, and put it out on the morning of pick up, as close to pick up time as possible.
- Remove any bird feeders and bird seed in yards. Bears are very attracted to bird seed. 7 pounds of sunflower seeds equates to just over 18,000 calories. As they work to eat up to 25,000 calories a day, it’s no wonder bears are attracted to bird feeders!
- Remove fruit from fruit trees and pick up any that has fallen on the ground. Just like bird feeders, fruit provides a lot of calories to animals so they will be attracted to your yards if it is present. There are also electric fences that can be purchased to protect fruit trees as well.

Individuals can report any bear sightings to NDOW, Nevada’s bear expert.

If anyone has a bear visiting their property or has any questions related to bears, they should call NDOW’s bear experts at (775) 688-BEAR.

“This should not be a last resort,” said Sanchez. “If biologists are notified of a bear, they can assess the situation. If the animal seems to be escalating in its habituation or food-conditioning, NDOW may apply aversive conditioning.  This is a humane, non-lethal management action many agencies engage in to keep a bear from getting to the point where it is considered a public safety threat. When NDOW can engage a bear early on in its conflict behavior there is a much higher success rate in preventing the animal from becoming a public safety threat.”
 
If it is a situation that does not warrant aversive conditioning, biologists can offer guidance on how to secure a resident’s property, or resources on how to report possible garbage violations.  

“NDOW cares about its bears, residents and visitors and we want to ensure that everyone is safe and secure,” said Sanchez.
          
For more resources for living with black bears, visit NDOW’s website here.