Following a tense encounter where a bear entered a Stateline residence, leaving two seniors with minor injuries, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) has stepped up its campaign to educate the public on reducing bear attractants. Early on Wednesday morning, an 87-year-old couple experienced the scare when the bear followed the male homeowner from the garage into their house after scratching his hand, as reported by FOX5 Vegas.
NDOW’s Game Division Administrator, Shawn Espinosa, expressed relief that the injuries were not severe. “We are grateful that these individuals sustained minor injuries and are okay,” he said in a statement obtained by FOX5 Vegas. The bear’s intrusion is attributed to hyperphagia, a phase bears undergo to consume as many calories as possible before winter hibernation. Espinosa stressed the importance of removing food sources that can attract bears to human habitats.
To avert future incidents, NDOW has issued guidelines that include securing garbage, as this accounts for around 90% of bear encounters. Locals are encouraged to reach out to their waste management authorities in Carson City, Washoe County and Douglas County to get bear-resistant trash containers. Additional advice offered by NDOW in the press release available on their website involves removing food from vehicles, securing homes properly, and considering electric fencing for livestock and beekeeping areas…