Bear nuisance rule proposed in Carson City

Carson City residents will be required to keep their trash away from bears if city supervisors approve a proposed ordinance on Thursday.

A report by City Manager Larry Werner calls for the city to make failing to put garbage in a secure "bear-proof" bin a nuisance. Those failing to do so could be cited.

"The concern with this is that it (trash) does draw the bears into more contact with humans, and at some point there could be a devastating encounter," Werner wrote in a report. "This proposed ordinance will put some controls and consequences of leaving cans out in such a manner that bears are attracted."

City supervisors will vote on the ordinance at their meeting Thursday.

The need for the ordinance didn't come out of any specific problems this year, Werner said in an interview Tuesday, but the city had a higher than average number of bear sightings last year.

The city needs to be able to control a problem that residents and the state have concerns about, he said.

No one has been attacked by a bear in Carson City, said Nevada Department of Wildlife Biologist Carl Lackey, but every year people report seeing black bears on the west side of Carson City in areas including Lakeview, Timberline and Ash Canyon.

Bears that get comfortable in the city are more dangerous to people, Lackey said, and food in trash is usually why bears come into the city.

Carson City wouldn't be the first government in the sate to have such an ordinance if it passes. Both Douglas County and Incline Village have similar rules.

People who violate Incline Village's ordinance can be fined up to $1,000 plus staff fees, but are also offered a $200 rebate for the cost of the garbage can enclosure.

Walt Sullivan, director of Carson City Developmental Services, said someone who violates the Carson City ordinance would probably be warned first about the trash problem and fined only after the person refused to make the changes.

Sarah Tone, a representative with Washoe County, said the county doesn't have any ordinance like Carson City is looking at, but is trying to find out what the best way is to deal with bears in the county.

This year has been a good year, though, she said, because of a large food supply keeping bears out of people's trash cans.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.