SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – To raise awareness of locations where bears and other wildlife tend to cross the road, the City of South Lake Tahoe is installing 20 signs that say “Bear Crossing” and “Slow Down for Wildlife.” The City’s Public Works Department consulted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the BEAR League, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, and Toogee Sielsch about where to put the signs to help reduce the number of animals hit and killed by cars annually.
The City can only place them on roads under its control, but Public Works Director Anush Nejad has contacted Caltrans and El Dorado County to see if they, too, could place the signs on their right-of-way in the area.
The signs were made in-house and are now being placed on streets and in neighborhoods, including Ski Run Blvd., Glenwood Way, 15th, Tahoe Keys Blvd., Al Tahoe, and Tahoe Sierra areas, among others.
Installation of the signs has been in the works for a couple of years, beginning with research on where to place them.
Bringing awareness to the public about wildlife, and to encourage drivers to be aware and slow down in these areas is the goal of the program. The City felt it was worth trying to eliminate the number of vehicle-animal collisions. Pathways for Wildlife is currently researching all areas on the South Shore that are have a high propensity for animals crossing the roadway, and working with agencies to have a solution.
