A bear was shot and killed inan Upper Kingsbury neighborhood June 20 by Nevada wildlife officials after it broke into a home and raided the kitchen.
Carl Lackey, biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said the female yearling learned from its mother last spring to rummage through garbage for food. About five or six yearlings in the neighborhood have similar habits.
Lackey received calls June 21 from people who were upset about the killing. He said he was regretful as well, and urged homeowners to follow laws requiring garbage to be stored in bear-proof containers.
"Wildlife belongs to everybody in the state of Nevada, but the fate of our bear population is being decided by a small minority who live in bear habitat and choose to be careless and irresponsible with their trash," Lackey said Wednesday.
This is the second bear that has been killed this year, he said.
The department trapped and released 54 bears last year, using Karelian bear dogs and rubber bullets to try to convince the animals it's not a good idea to hang around people. The bear killed last week had been caught and released four times already this summer. It was suspected of breaking into several homes. Several weeks ago, it stood its ground when confronted by the rubber bullets of Douglas County deputies.
Last night would be its last.
"It came out of the house and stood its ground," Lackey said. "It did not show that it wanted to leave."
In other news, a 4-year old male bear is in the care of wildlife officials after colliding with a truck on Highway 50 near Cave Rock around 1 p.m.
"It ran out into the road and slammed into the side of the truck," said Lackey. The truck was likely traveling around 60 mph, he said.
The 275-pound animal was able to get up after the accident, and was moving around very slowly.
"We are going to hang onto it, see if it does well," Lackey said. "It seemed to be recovering on its own."
The bear was tranquilized and removed for fear it could go into the highway again, he said.
Several bears are struck by cars on Tahoe's roads each year, he said.
