A black bear was relocated after being spotted at an elementary school playground in Page, Arizona, in early October.
Bear activity has increased in the last two months.
That's because bears living in the Sierra Nevada enter hyperphagia during the fall months.
Hyperphagia is "a natural phase when their appetites go into overdrive as they work to build fat stores for the winter," Ashley Zeme, a spokesperson with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said. "During this period, bears can eat up to 20,000 calories a day."
This has led to an increase in bear reports to NDOW from residents in Reno, Tahoe and Carson City.
Here's a closer look at where bear activity is being reported this autumn and what to do to keep bears wild as they continue to search for food.
Where are bears being reported in Northern Nevada?
According to NDOW's map, the most bear activity is being reported in the southwestern and southern parts of Reno this fall. This could be because more people live in these areas compared to other regions of Northern Nevada.
As of Oct. 14, NDOW received 15 calls this month about bear activity, 11 in Washoe County and four in Douglas County or Carson City. There have been no reports from the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe so far in October, but NDOW received multiple calls about bear activity from Lake Tahoe in September.
What keeps bears away?
Bear-human interactions can be dangerous for both bears and humans. In an effort to keep bears wild and both parties safe, NDOW recommends these tips to avoid attracting bears to Northern Nevadans yards in the first place.
Secure your garbage
This is the biggest attractant for bears, Zeme said.
"More than 90% of all bear calls are garbage-related, making it crucial to prevent bears from accessing human foods," Zeme said.
Local ordinances require residents to secure garbage in Washoe County, Douglas County and Carson City. Zeme said bear-resistant containers are the best way to secure garbage.
You can find contacts for local waste management and other options at ndow.org/blog/living-with-bears.
Use electric fencing to deter bears
Zeme said the cost of an electric fence is far less than the loss of livestock and property damage.
"Electric fencing is the best way to secure outdoor attractants like gardens, orchards, beehives and chicken coops. We've had multiple reports of bears killing chickens in the past few weeks," Zeme said.
Manage your fruit trees
Orchards or backyard fruit trees can draw bears into human communities. Zeme recommends picking fruit as soon as it's ripe and cleaning up any on the ground. This can also prevent rats from being attracted to your home. If you can't manage upkeep on your fruit trees, Zeme said the Reno Gleaning Project can collect it for you. She added that electric fencing also works well to protect fruit trees.
Never feed or approach bears
Zeme also recommended following the tips from BearWise, a program that informs homeowners on how to live safely in communities with bears. BearWise's website said that intentionally feeding bears or allowing them find things that smell or taste like food encourages them to approach homes and people. However, if people get too close, bears will defend themselves, risking the safety of people and bears.
* Remove bird feeders. The seeds and grains in bird feeders have a lot of calories, which is what bears are looking going into winter. Removing them from your yard during a time of high bear activity can keep you and bears safe.
* Never leave pet food outdoors. BearWise recommends feeding pets indoors and storing food where bears can't smell it.
* Clean grills and smokers. Grills and smokers can smell like fat and food. After cleaning, store grills and smokers inside during high bear activity times.
* Talk with your neighbors. If residents see bears or evidence of bear activity, BearWise said it's important to tell your neighbors and share info on how to avoid conflicts with bears. "Bears have adapted to living near people; now it's up to us to adapt to living near bears," BearWise said.
Are bears in Nevada unusual?
No. Bears lived in Nevada long before the first settlers came to the region. But by 1900, bear populations had been destroyed in the region for a variety of reasons including unregulated hunting, conflicts with settlers' livestock and clear-cutting of forests.
Conservation and habitat regeneration increased bear populations in Nevada dramatically since the 1980s.
You can learn more at the Nevada Department of Wildlife's website.
Are bear encounters more common in the fall?
Yes. Autumn is the last chance for bears to eat a lot and prepare for the cold, dark winter days where they need to conserve their energy. People living on the outskirts of or recreating within the Nevada wilderness should store food in secure areas, clean up food and smelly things thoroughly and eliminate anything that may make them unaware of their surroundings while outdoors, such as earphones.
How do I make sure a bear does not make a home out of my deck, porch, RV or outbuilding?
As bears search for warm places to live as temperatures drop, the enclosed bottom of a deck or porch may look like a welcome home for sleeping and possibly birthing babies. Make sure all windows are closed and locked and all food and smelly materials are secured. BearWise also recommends people in high-bear areas to replace any outdoor lever-style handles because bears can easily open these compared to turn doorknobs.
People should also lock pet doors and secure any holes in porches or decks, including below them.
Do bears actually hibernate?
Yes, but black bears in the Sierra Nevada hibernate differently from other "true hibernators" such as bats, marmots, squirrels and rodents. These animals will remain dormant for many weeks and their body temperature will drop significantly below what is normal while active.
During hibernation, a black bear's metabolic rate slows and its body temperature may drop but not significantly. The bear will not eat, drink, urinate or defecate during hibernation. Black bears are able to recycle calcium back into their bones during hibernation, avoiding the usual osteoporosis that typically accompanies long periods of inactivity. Black bears will also slough their paw pads during hibernation, according to sierrawild.gov.
Black bears in the Sierra Nevada usually den from mid-December to March or early April. In places with milder winters, this hibernation period is shorter and bears that have enough food don't hibernate at all. Other bears will hibernate for periods and leave the den at various points throughout the winter.