Bear dogs at Carson Valley Museum on Saturday

With fall fast approaching, black bears across the Sierra Front will be looking to fatten up for their winter’s nap.

On Saturday, Bear-ier Solutions owner Heather Reich will have her Karelian bear dogs at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center’s Family Day.

Reich and the dogs will be at the Gardnerville museum at 11 a.m.

Admission is free 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month for Family Day. At 1 p.m. the Mendiko Euskaldun Cluba Basque Dancers will perform.

Reich is also participating in the first-ever Tahoe Bear Fest 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 28 at Spooner Lake State Park.

“This bear-focused, family-friendly event is designed to educate and engage the public on living and recreating responsibly in bear country,” according to the Tahoe Interagency Bear Team.

The event is sponsored by the Team and the Nevada Division of State Parks.

The event will feature informative sessions every 30 minutes starting at 11:30 a.m., led by experts from agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, Pathways for Wildlife, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife, featuring their specially trained Karelian Bear Dogs.

These programs will cover various aspects of bear behavior, safety, and how to coexist peacefully with these magnificent creatures.

Booths will offer bear-related information, interactive activities and information on how to properly store food and garbage to prevent bear encounters.

Educational activities and booths by Bear-ier Solutions, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation, Nevada Division of State Parks, Pathways for Wildlife, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and Tahoe Bear Box.

Tahoe Bear Fest coincides with National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. NPLD is an opportunity for people across the country to connect with and give back to the parks, forests, and wildlife areas that enrich our lives. As part of this celebration, Tahoe Bear Fest aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world, especially the wildlife that calls it home.

While the event is free to the public, parking at Spooner Lake State Park is limited. Visitors are encouraged to stagger their arrival times, carpool or use public transportation if possible.

Visitors are encouraged to always practice BearWise Basics. Here are a few tips:

• Store food securely: Never leave food unattended and use bear-resistant containers or lockers.

• Dispose of garbage properly: Always use bear-resistant garbage containers

• Stay alert and stay together: Be aware of your surroundings, especially when hiking or camping.

• Keep dogs leashed: Don’t make a bear defend itself.

• Never feed or approach bears.