If you thought Yogi Bear was just a cartoon character, two hungry bears are giving Reno residents a real-life reminder to keep a close eye on their trash. Two viewers have reported bear sightings in South Reno and Old Southwest Reno, with one bear reportedly roaming the same southwest neighborhood for weeks and repeatedly getting into garbage.
In South Reno, several videos of a bear wandering through the area surfaced over the weekend. One video, shared with 2 News Nevada by viewer Dillon Dotson, shows a bear around 10 p.m. Sunday near Veterans Parkway and Rio Wrangler. The bear was also spotted near Curti Ranch.
Meanwhile, another viewer reported repeated bear sightings over several weeks in Old Southwest Reno around San Mateo and Cashill, just east of McCarran Boulevard near the Caughlin Ranch area. The viewer also shared photos of trash cans that had been knocked over and rummaged through on garbage collection days.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife confirmed it is aware of the South Reno sightings and has received calls about the bear. While bears aren't commonly reported in that part of town, NDOW said the area's proximity to the base of the Virginia Range means sightings aren't unheard of.
For residents in Old Southwest, NDOW pointed to the rollout of bear-resistant garbage carts as one way to help address the problem.
“A vast majority of the city’s rebate program for those bear-resistant carts went to your neighborhood and those are starting to be deployed so hopefully that helps a little bit! Never hurts to remind the neighbors to put trash out the morning of collection”
The timing of the sightings is also important. Bears are currently in a period called hyperphagia, when they eat nearly nonstop to build up the fat reserves they'll need for winter. During this period, bears can consume upwards of 20,000 calories a day and travel significant distances in search of food.
That search can bring them into neighborhoods, where unsecured garbage, pet food, bird feeders and other food sources can provide an easy meal.
NDOW recommends securing garbage until collection day, bringing pet food indoors, removing bird feeders, thoroughly cleaning grills after each use and making sure vehicles are free of food and other scented items. In Old Southwest, putting trash out on the morning of collection can also help reduce the time it is available to bears.
Although seeing a bear in an unexpected part of town can catch people off guard, NDOW says a bear traveling through a neighborhood isn't necessarily a cause for alarm. Residents should give bears plenty of space, never approach or feed them, and allow them a clear path to move along.
The goal is to keep both people and bears safe. Leaving food and garbage accessible can encourage bears to return to neighborhoods in search of another easy meal.
If a bear poses a public safety threat, appears injured, or exhibits aggressive behavior, residents can contact NDOW's Bear Hotline at (775) 688-2327.
Residents can also find more information about living safely around bears, including tips for preventing encounters, on the NDOW Living with Bears webpage.
Whether it's near Veterans Parkway in South Reno or in Old Southwest, these sightings are a reminder that bears can turn up in places where residents may not expect them. Taking a few precautions with trash and other food sources can help keep neighborhoods safer for people and give bears less reason to stick around.
