SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – With bear activity at an all-time high in the Lake Tahoe Basin, behaviors by some are creating a dangerous situation at Sawmill Pond and Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Those fishing at the pond have been seen giving fish to a mother bear and her two cubs, leading the bears to cross the roadway several times a day to get to the fresh food source.
There is a sow with two cubs, another adult bear, and a yearling, all seen crossing Lake Tahoe Blvd. to get to food.
It is a bear habit that mom crosses first, then the new cubs come, and sometimes they could be 100 yards behind. Drivers let mom cross, thinking all is safe, and then the cubs can be hit.
And it is not just those who are fishing who are feeding the bears. The known increase in bear activity is bringing out what some call “Bearparazzi,” photographers looking for the perfect bear photo opportunity. At least one photographer has been seen baiting the bears, or intentionally feeding them.
Leona Allen, a lifelong local and volunteer bear advocate and member of Team Bear, has been at Sawmill Pond often over the last few weeks, sometimes several times a day, to educate people about not feeding the bears. She also runs interference for the bears as they cross Lake Tahoe Blvd.
The speed limit of the road the bears are crossing is 55 mph. A 13-year-old South Lake Tahoe girl was killed in the area as she crossed the road last year.
“We want to keep the bears wild and away from traffic and people,” said Leona, who fears one or more bears will be killed this year at Sawmill Pond as they attempt to cross to get the fish.
“We want to prevent any opportunities to provide food for bears, either intentionally or inadvertently,” added Leona. She said she has had to educate picnickers at the pond on proper food storage and disposal. People need to take responsibility for food and trash, which removes the attractants for bears. This action teaches the bears that humans are good for food.
“They learn to associate people with food and can become increasingly aggressive,” said Leona. She said this starts a slippery slope by creating a pattern that she doesn’t want to see repeated.
“First and foremost is to not let animals get to our trash and food,” added Leona.
Leona said that every year, cubs are taken to rehab after their mothers are hit and killed on Lake Tahoe roads. She said she doesn’t want bears to get hit by cars as they get to the food left illegally for them.
Leona is stressing that people follow the law and don’t feed the bears, don’t leave apples behind, thinking animals would love them.
“If bears weren’t being fed, this wouldn’t be happening,” said Leona.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) states the same.
“When you are in Tahoe, you are entering one of the most heavily black bear habitats in the world,” said Peter Tira, CDFW information officer. “We want to keep them wild; it’s our responsibility. Do not feed them!”
Tira said feeding bears and other wildlife harms them, creating nothing but negative consequences.
This is a very busy time of the year for bears, all out actively on the landscape. They are rebuilding their fat storage after winter. Sows with cubs of the year (born in January or February this year) are out. The sows without babies this year are kicking the yearlings (last year’s new cubs), and they are on their own for the first time to find their own territory. All of these bears are looking for food at a time that coincides with when there are more people out on the trails, in the forests, at the beaches, and visiting.
Leona added that she and fellow Team Bear member Toogee Sielsch have seen much more bear action in Tahoe for this time of year. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department also reports they are responding to about double the number of bear calls than last year.
Team Bear reports seeing food-aggressive bears at Taylor Creek, along with car and house break-ins in the state streets, Tahoe Keys, and in the Springwood Drive neighborhood. They have been handing out numerous electric bear mats, as has the BEAR league.
Leona said it is earlier and more aggressive behavior than they’ve seen in the past, and a lot more. They are much busier earlier in the season than before.
Bears are opportunistic animals who are intelligent and very adaptive. They are improving themselves to have access to food, but humans are not adapting their behavior.
CDFW law enforcement is aware of the current situation at Sawmill Pond and will be making visits.
