Tahoe Drivers Warned as Bears Search for Fall Food
Shorter days and increased bear activity are raising collision risks on roads across the Tahoe Basin.
Bears are moving more often around Lake Tahoe this fall, and wildlife officials are asking motorists to use extra caution. The animals are searching for food before winter, bringing them across highways, residential streets and other heavily traveled routes in California and Nevada.
This seasonal feeding period, known as hyperphagia, can keep bears looking for food through much of the day and night. Their activity may increase around homes, shops and roads when unsecured trash or other human food sources are available. Reduced daylight also makes animals harder to spot during some driving hours.
A vehicle strike can kill or seriously injure a bear, leave cubs without a mother, and damage vehicles or hurt people inside them. Wildlife agencies respond to these incidents around the basin, though the full number is hard to establish because some crashes go unreported and injured animals may move away before they are located. Drivers can help by staying alert, while residents and businesses can reduce risks by keeping garbage, food and other attractants secured. More information about living responsibly with bears is available through TahoeBears.org and BearWise.org.
- Hyperphagia pushes bears to consume heavily before winter.
- Bears may be active at any hour during fall.
- Unsecured garbage can draw bears toward roads and buildings.
- Resources are available at TahoeBears.org and BearWise.org.
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