With an estimated 35-thousand black bears, California has a healthy and growing population. And in the spring, hibernating bears emerge from their winter slumber and begin an almost perpetual search for food, including in Nevada County. Carol Singleton, with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, says the drought has likely made it more difficult, leading more of them into populated areas…

click to listen to Carol Singleton

Singleton says garbage cans are a popular source, and that residents, especially campers, need to take secure measures. She says bears that become habituated to human food sources have to be killed. But she says they try to prevent that, when possible…

click to listen to Carol Singleton

Singleton says relocating habituated bears does not work. She says those bears ultimately return to the same neighborhood or another populated area and continue their bad habits…including breaking into homes and even attacking domesticated animals. There have been no documented human fatalities from black bears, the only species in California.