As summer temperatures rise and crowds gather at Lake Tahoe, officials are urging visitors to manage their trash responsibly to protect the region's bear population. The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT) is calling on the public to ensure garbage and food are secured, as bears are increasingly drawn to unsecured waste left behind by visitors.
Bears that find food in human trash can become habituated, leading them to frequent homes, trailheads, and beaches in search of more. This behavior raises the risk of conflicts between humans and wildlife. According to TIBT, "When bears get repeated food rewards with no consequences, both wildlife and people can be affected. Bears quickly learn to associate humans with food, which leads to increased sightings near homes, trailheads, and beaches. This can cause human-bear conflicts with potentially serious consequences."
Beyond immediate safety concerns, there are long-term health risks for bears that consume garbage. Non-digestible materials like foil, plastic, paper, and metal can harm or kill bears by damaging their digestive systems. The press release notes that even when such trash passes through a bear’s system, it does not contain seeds or nutrients needed for local plant life regeneration. Over time, eating human garbage can also result in dental problems for bears.
The TIBT advises all visitors to use bear-resistant garbage containers correctly: "PUSH the tab, LIFT the door, TOSS the trash in!" The team emphasizes locking bins after use and not leaving garbage beside full containers. They stress that unattended trash not only attracts bears but also creates more work for staff and sets a poor example for others.
"If the bin is full, do not leave your garbage next to it. Find another container or take it home," states TIBT. The group also suggests using gloves or napkins if visitors are concerned about dirty handles.
"Lake Tahoe’s bears are wild animals, they are not garbage disposals. It’s our shared responsibility to keep them healthy, safe, and wild," TIBT said.
More information on coexisting with bears is available at BearWise.org or TahoeBears.org.
The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team consists of agencies and organizations focused on reducing human-bear conflicts through education and management practices aimed at allowing both people and wildlife to safely share the region.