dllfo
Sacramento, CA
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Joined: 02/12/2005
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We have been staying here since Oct 1st. A couple of times we have driven home for medical appointments, etc., but overall have spent a lot of time here.
It is beautiful. It also boasts the smartest black bears around. We just got back a few hours ago when three of the "neighbors" came up to tell us the bears were very active last night. A Holiday Rambler and a Windsor MH had basement doors opened by a large bear looking for food. He did not find any, but he looked.
Two of them said the bear tried to open the front door to their MH. One said the bear got one lock "open", but the dead bolt stopped him. I called US Fish and Wildlife who told me to call the State of Nevada and gave me their number. Who sent me to another lady. She suggested we move. Lake Tahoe has thousands of black bears and not enough people to get to all of them. I laughed to myself as she suggested that, thinking the tourist trade people would not appreciate her telling us to camp elsewhere. She also suggested calling 911. I told her the police won't help with a bear outside the city limits, but she insisted they would if our lives were in danger. I hope she is right.
Several people arrived around 5pm so I asked them if they had heard (from mgt as they checked in) about the bears. All 3 said no. I told them what I had been told and they thanked me.
I do have my shotgun with me, and 5 slugs in it. I can probably stop it before it attacks my wife and I, but I really don't want to shoot anything or anyone.
We were told to use moth balls in the basement, bears hate them. We were told to get the loud air whistle things you can carry around.
This is a new problem for me. How would you handle it?
2002 Monaco Diplomat 38PST
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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Joined: 11/15/2003
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Move. And a shot gun will only make him mad, don't use it.
Othertonka
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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LOL have you tried Bounce Fabric softener sheets?
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OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
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We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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RGar974417
Robesonia,Pa 19551
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Most black bears are wary of humans and are easily scared off.The air horn or most loud noises will usually scare them away. We have them in the mountainous areas of Pennsylvania and I can't ever remember a black bear killing someone although it may have happened.And a 12 guage shot gun at close range will take out the average black bear. We ain't talking grizzly now.
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Campnfuls
Yreka, CA
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Joined: 10/18/2007
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To be safe, carry pepper spray for when you come face to face with one. A face off with most black bears usually never happens though. In nearly all cases, as soon as a black bear sees a human at close range they are off like a rocket in the other direction. The exception would be if you accidently came between a mother bear and her cubs.
* This post was
edited 11/06/09 08:44pm by Campnfuls *
I want to leave this earth quietly in my sleep like my grandfather and not like the hysterical, screaming passengers riding in granddad's RV just before the big crash.
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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RGar974417 wrote:Most black bears are wary of humans and are easily scared off.The air horn or most loud noises will usually scare them away. We have them in the mountainous areas of Pennsylvania and I can't ever remember a black bear killing someone although it may have happened.And a 12 guage shot gun at close range will take out the average black bear. We ain't talking grizzly now. This may be true for wild bears, but these have become habituated to humans, and are a real danger. We've seen this in Alaska where the key phrase is "A fed bear is a dead bear", be they black or brown (griz). Once the animal associates food with humans there is only one solution, and it's permanent. We saw this first hand at the Elmendorf AFB FAMCAMP when a bear was constantly in the CG and finally wouldn't chase, even when shot with "cracker" rounds by security people. They killed it. If you don't intend to take the bear on with a permanent solution, moving may be the only option. Someone is going to get hurt eventually, and if they don't die, a good lawyer is going to make a ton of money. In a bear attack the bear always wins.
John
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dllfo
Sacramento, CA
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JUrban summed it up nicely. We have a local friend who has hunted the area for almost a half century. He refers to the dumpster bears as "Welfare Bears" and he pretty much agrees the bear will be moved far away or killed.
I have no desire to hurt one of the bears, but if it trys to get into my coach, either the 30-30 or the shotgun with slugs will stop him/her. If not, I will leave the keys in the ignition for what is left of the bear.
Our friend says the horn is no good after the bear figures out it won't hurt him/her. Pepper Spray? It works, no argument there. Hope the wind is blowing the "right way".
As for the man who traps bears around this area .... he is over at Incline Village trapping a black bear that is breaking into peoples homes.
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Acampingwewillgo
Camarillo, CA
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Who says these Bears have become "humanized"..thats non sense. The bears maybe looking for an easy meal BUT just because they are in and around campgrounds DOES NOT mean they cannot be scared off. How many incidents of Black Bears being in campgrounds do you think take place on a nightly basis, then compare that to the number of maulings there are.....you cant go to Yosemite or anyplace in the Sierra's without coming across those that have encountered black bears. I dont remember how many times Ive seen them and each time, a little noise or some flashlight's and their off running. Im not saying dont be prepared....but be real and dont alarm everyone into believing the only way to deal with a bear is violence. Typical response, we go into their territory and if they dont move out, bring out the gun and shoot! Lets try some common sense first! IMHO
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JTMO
Novato, CA
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Joined: 10/26/2003
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Put some small bells around your neck, I heard that worked 
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Use bear spray and carry a bell or whistle ,also knowing the type of "poop" you are walking in . Bears like berries and small animals .
You should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper
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