Seventh 'Drought Bear' Captured At Lake Tahoe In Past 10 Days; Female Released

Update - 2:04 p.m. - Seventh 'Drought Bear' Captured At Lake Tahoe In Past 10 Days; Female Released

(AP) — State wildlife officials have captured their seventh bear in the past 10 days at Lake Tahoe, where experts are predicting lingering drought will prompt an uptick in bear problems the rest of the year.

The latest bear trapped Friday near Glenbrook was a repeat offender that had been captured and released before — just like the one that was destroyed at Glenbrook beach on Wednesday. But unlike the male that was rummaging through beachgoer's backpacks, Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman Chris Healy says the female captured Friday was showing the proper fear of humans and was not considered a threat to public safety.

Biologists planned to release her to a different mountain range Friday afternoon about 60 miles east near Wellington.

Healy says she's an example of what they are calling "drought bears." Unlike so-called "garbage" bears, Healy says they want to be wild and remain in the hills, but the lack of food due to drought is forcing them into urban areas.

Original story - Posted 9:55 a.m. - Black Bear Deemed 'Too Dangerous' Put Down By Nevada Wildlife Officials

GLENBROOK, Nev. (AP) - Nevada wildlife officials say a black bear with a rap sheet had to be killed after it turned up at Lake Tahoe again this week posing a safety threat to beachgoers.

Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman Chris Healy says the bear had been captured twice since 2011, most recently last year in the same area around Glenbrook. It was deemed too dangerous to be released to the wild a third time.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports  the 3-year-old male was spotted Tuesday prowling on a Glenbrook beach. Biologists darted it Wednesday then chemically euthanized it in Reno.

It's the first bear put down as a safety threat in Nevada this year. Five were killed for that reason last year.

Biologists anticipate significant bear conflicts around Tahoe and the Sierra this season due to prolonged drought.