NDOW responded after a bear was spotted roaming around an apartment complex in Damonte Ranch on Thursday morning.
Reno Police say the bear does not appear aggressive.
NDOW says it has seen an uptick in bear reports across the area, which is normal this time of year as bears enter hyperphagia, when their appetites go into overdrive to prepare for winter.
To keep bears away, you're advised to secure outdoor trash.
NDOW says 95% of bear calls are garbage-related. Securing and bear proofing your trash is the best thing you can do to deter bears and keep them wild. Washoe County Waste Management offers bear-resistant garbage cans that can be left out. You can request one by calling (775) 329-8822. In the meantime, keep your garbage cans stored in a locked shed or garage and only put it out the morning of trash pickup.
* Be aware: Washoe County has a garbage ordinance in place which requires residents to secure their trash to prevent bears from getting into them. Failure to do so can result in fines. Repeated violations can be reported to (775) 328-6101.
* Remove bird feeders from dusk to dawn.
* Remove other attractants from your yard (fruit from fruit trees, pet food, clean dirty barbeques, trash, and all other food/scented items.)
* As a precaution remove food, trash, and other scented items from vehicles. Keep vehicle windows up and doors locked when not in use.
* Install electric fencing around beehives, chicken coops, and livestock. For more information click here.
* If you see bears near your home, scare them away: From an open window or safe distance, yell loudly and/or bang pots and pans. Yelling things like “Hey bear!”, “Go bear!”, “Get out of here bear!” alerts those around you to what’s going on. You can also trigger your car alarm to try to scare them off as well. These methods can help “negatively condition” bears to humans and houses and teach them that it is not okay to enter these areas.
For more information and resources for living in bear country, visit https://www.ndow.org/blog/living-with-bears/.
You can also view video at When Bears and Humans Collide - YouTube
You can also visit: https://tahoebears.org and https://bearwise.org
