2 Convicted of Bear Trap Tampering at Lake Tahoe

The Nevada Department of Wildlife says a 300-pound black bear drowned Monday at a Dayton golf course pond, after being sedated. 

NDOW says it got a call from the Dayton Valley golf course Monday morning about a bear wandering on the 16th fairway, but the agency told course reps to keep an eye on the animal allowing it to move towards more natural habitat. But, instead they got another phone call stating that the bear wandered under a deck of one of the homes. 

Two Lyon County Deputies responded, and NDOW says the decision was made to sedate the eight-year-old bear due to the nearby populated area, that included school children. 

NDOW says it was tranquilized, and then swam across the pond, but then slipped under the water. 

NDOW says an agency rep, NDOW volunteer and a golf course employee jumped into the pond and tried to rescue the black bear, but it eventually drowned. 

NDOW says it previously caught the bear in Incline Village, and darted it in another instance in Gardnerville. NDOW says the collared animal had an injured left rear leg, and limped. 

People needing to report nuisance bear activity can call the NDOW's Bear Hotline telephone number at (775) 688-BEAR (2327).  For information on living with bears persons can go to www.ndow.org and find the ”Bear Logic” page on the web.