SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The South Lake Tahoe City Council has an agenda item on April 21 that should bring out a lot of public comment and long councilmember debate.

Everyone loves our Tahoe bears. They want to save them, protect them, ensure they aren’t hit by vehicles, and make sure they aren’t killed after becoming a “conflict bear.”

But to discuss becoming a sanctuary city, or adopting policies and regulations that no other community in the world has, one should take a 30,000-foot view on the matter and not let passion take over; use collaboration, data, facts, and figures to make sensible policies.

A sanctuary city for bears would prioritize non-lethal management instead of euthanasia. There is nothing wrong with trying all methods first before killing a “conflict” bear, but nothing can be successful until education takes priority and people learn how to live with bears. Secure the attractants (garbage, bird feeders, fruit trees). Bears were here first, but only actions by humans can keep them here safely.

What makes sense at this time is to become a “Bear Wise” community.

After a presentation from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on December 9, 2025, the City Council passed a motion directing staff to “establish a collaborative response protocol group including the police department, bear groups, CDFW, South Tahoe Refuse, homeowners associations, and other interested parties; and to report back to Council on findings and/or a draft of protocols.

On the table:

Passing a motion that would provide direction regarding Collaborative Bear Process and Protocol that might include:

  • Increasing fines for violations related to trash management and providing wildlife access to food;
  • Designating the City as a Bear Sanctuary City or Bear Wise Community;
  • Establishment and funding of a City Bear Liaison position;
  • Formal written correspondence from the City Council to CDFW and/or Bear League requesting specific actions;
  • Amending the Vacation Home Rental Ordinance to explicitly require property owners/managers to provide Bear Aware education materials to renters;
  • Providing pilot program funding to partner with South Tahoe Refuse to provide container cleaning service:
  • Continuation of City facilitation of discussions between CDFW, Bear League, and community partners regarding management of habituated bears.

Many of these directives make sense and should be implemented. CDFW has jurisdiction over what happens to bears in city limits, no matter what the policy says. Besides, having an ordinance about bear policies in just the city limits doesn’t make sense when the bears can travel several miles a day, moving from the city to the county to another state. But we can do better, and change starts here.

What makes sense is doing a better job of educating everyone about bears, locals and visitors, business owners, apartment managers, and VHRs – yes, everyone. The bears cannot continue to safely co-exist with humans until there are no car doors left open, no garbage left unattended, no barbeque grills left dirty, and the list goes on, including no humans intentionally feeding bears in their yards.

What makes sense is to drop the idea of sterilizing bears that are “problems” and pass the breaking and entering habits onto their cubs. CDFW says drugs cannot be used on wildlife that are “harvestable,” meaning something people could eat. Sterilization can work on wild horses since horses do not fall into the “harvestable” category. If sterilization worked on bears, why isn’t it being done in any other area in the world, including the numerous other regions with “bear problems?” CDFW cannot comment on possible or pending policies until they have been approved, so their official comments on what the City Council is considering have to wait.

What makes sense is education and strong enforcement.

What makes sense is to collaborate with the Tahoe Interagency Bear Team and biologists to make sensible next steps – why create another group?

What makes sense is to go forward on Tahoe bear policies and procedures with data, not passion, and the reality of what cities can actually do under CDFW.

Cooling Down a Hot Topic

Coming out of Colorado is an idea that rewards people who can reduce dangerous interactions between humans and bears through its Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering a total of $1 million for the effort.

“Living successfully and safely alongside our wildlife is an important part of who we are in Colorado. These grants will help prevent potentially dangerous conflicts between bears and humans, ensuring we all can enjoy Colorado’s high quality of life, especially in our high country. These investments are an important tool to keep us and wildlife safe and prevent property damage,” said Colorado’s Governor Polis. 

The Colorado grant program strives to foster solutions to human-bear conflict that can be replicated in other parts of the state and bolster those efforts in all communities in the state.

The Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program aims to reduce conflicts between local communities and black bears.

Characteristics of Colorado projects that help meet this goal include:

  • Reducing the availability of attractants to black bears in communities experiencing human-bear conflict or disincentivizing black bears from entering areas of high conflict.
  • Have local community support or detailed plans to build local support.
  • Are cost-effective investments that have the potential to last beyond the funding time frame (such as bear proof trash cans).
  • Utilize proven techniques for preventing conflict or explore an innovation with a promise to prevent conflict.