More people are reporting encounters with Bears in Nevada County. California Fish and Wildlife Warden Jerry Karnow says he will respond when the sheriff’s department or the Highway patrol get calls about bears.

click to listen to Jerry Karnow

Karnow says for the most part a bear will attempt to avoid human contact, but they still can be dangerous. Just last Monday night a woman who lives in Magalia in Butte County was awakened by her dog barking and went into the back yard to find a Bear.  The Bear attacked her with scratches and  bit her in the shoulder.  She was taken to the hospital but has been released. Fish and Wildlife officials are now trying to trap the bear.
Karnow says the best way to keep bears at bay is to keep your property clear of anything that would attract them like bird feeders or garbage. Spraying your garbage can with ammonia can also help detract bears.

Karnow says Bears can cause a lot of damage if they enter a vehicle in search of food in the vehicle that they can easily scent even through closed windows.    Bears can also be a problem for people on the road, just like deer.
click to listen to Jerry Karnow

Karnow says People are more likely to see bears in the lower elevations of Nevada County because unlike bears in Truckee, they do not hibernate. He says the bear population is also expanding and there are a lot of theories why that is.

click to listen to Jerry Karnow

Bears are omnivorous by nature, feeding on food of both plant and animal origin. The drought has impacted berries and other typical foods they like to eat.   Bears have been known to kill chickens, even small goats or deer fawns if they are hungry.
Last September this Bear was seen walking on Prospect Street in Nevada City.