Reader says euthanization of bear in Carson City was unnecessary

Editor’s note: We asked the Nevada Department of Wildlife to provide information on how it manages the state’s bear population and the criteria it uses in determining what to do with problem bears. The following information was provided by Kelly Clark, conservation education chief for the agency.

Keeping Nevada’s bears wild: As wildlife managers, we deeply regret situations in which wildlife must be euthanized as a result of conflicts caused by humans. However, we also have a responsibility to protect human safety. Bears that have been involved in multiple nuisance situations invariably get into trouble again, and are likely to become emboldened in attempts to secure human foods. Bears of this type can be dangerous to humans: they have none of their natural fear mechanisms, and often refuse to leave when humans are present.
Educating humans about bears and garbage: The Department of Wildlife is encouraging cities and counties in Northern Nevada to pass ordinances that control access to bear-attracting garbage in neighborhoods along the Sierra Front, and prohibit feeding of wildlife. The Department also is working with local governments to develop effective educational materials to inform the public about what they can do to prevent bear problems. Currently, Incline Village and Douglas County have adopted ordinances to require use of bear proof garbage bins in certain situations. We understand that Carson City's City Manager is also considering such an ordinance. These type of ordinances, together with educational efforts for humans to contain garbage, are required if we are ever going to resolve the problem of nuisance bears.
We hope that you will join in our efforts to keep wildlife wild by doing the following:
• Do not feed bears in any manner
• Control your garbage by using bear-proof garbage containers
• Do not put garbage out until the morning of pick up
• Use Pinesol or other ammonia-based products to keep bears from entering windows or porch areas, or from accessing garbage areas
• Talk to neighbors and encourage these same actions in them
• Exclude access to fruit trees, fish ponds, or compost piles
• Do not support supplemental feeding: these activities encourage bears and other wildlife to gather unnaturally, potentially increasing cub mortality, disease transmission, and fertility.

Bear conflicts are on the increase across the West: Across the West, the number of human-bear conflicts has increased. Although there have been no known black bear attacks in Nevada, the number of habituated bears and increased number of human-wildlife conflicts along the Sierra Front has elevated the seriousness of the threat. So far this year, there have been 21 bear mortalities; of those 14 were for public safety reasons, and seven were due to bears being struck by cars.
Why no relocation: Studies have shown that relocation efforts do not work. Bears that are relocated will return to their area of capture or are killed by cars in the process.
For more information, please review our Keep Me Wild information at www.ndow.org.