Deputy shoots 300-pound black bear in Jacks Valley

A Douglas County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a 300-pound bear Sunday in Jacks Valley which was foraging through a Cindy's Trail neighborhood.

Carl Lackey, Nevada Department of Wildlife biologist, said Tuesday he wasn't present when the animal was killed, but the 5-year-old bear was familiar.

"He was a known garbage bear which by itself is not reason to shoot him," Lackey said. "He had been hit by a vehicle about five weeks ago at Holbrook Junction."

Lackey said the injured animal was examined by a vet who recommended the animal be taken to a remote area.

"It had a broken pelvis, which the vet said was very capable of healing," Lackey said. "We were hoping would happen if the bear would take it easy. But that's a lot to ask of a wild animal."

Lackey said the plan didn't work.

"The bear went straight back down into the urban areas. He was walking into an Indian Hills neighborhood getting into the only thing he knew - garbage," Lackey said.

Because the bear didn't heal, Lackey said the animal returned to familiar behavior.

"The back leg was a handicapped and as a result, he was spending all his time getting into homes. It's very unfortunate," Lackey said.

He said a decision was made that the bear would have to be destroyed if it returned to an urban area.

A Douglas County deputy and Nevada game warden Reid Varble were called out to the area when the bear was reported about 10:40 a m. Sunday.

They followed the bear south of Jacks Valley Road where the deputy shot the animal.

Lackey reiterated that people need to bear-proof their garbage.

"Bears get hit by cars because they're spending all their time around urban areas. It's still a preventable outcome if people just know how to dispose of their garbage," he said.