Bears topic of community meetings

The Business Council of Douglas County plans to host a series of community meetings to deal with neighborhood sightings of hungry black bears.

"Every week, we've had bears in our neighborhood," said Renea Louie, executive director of the Business Council. "We keep asking ourselves, 'What could I have done differently? Did I somehow invite this activity? Did I do something wrong?'

"Specialists in the field can tell you what to do and give you the skills needed to evade and avoid problems in your home and neighborhoods," she said.

The Business Council hopes to put residents together with experts to come up with solutions to bear-proof neighborhoods.

Louie said she was in the process of coordinating meetings in North County, Minden and Gardnerville and the Topaz Lake area.

Residents would be able to get information from Nevada Department of Wildlife and Douglas County code enforcement.

"We're looking for steps you can take as an individual and in the community to keep your homes and neighborhoods safe and as well as yourselves and your families," she said.

Louie said a role of the Business Council is to take on community issues.

"Our membership is comprised 100 percent of business owners and leaders in this community. We live here, work here, and employ people who live here. It's our responsibility to help on these types of issues," she said.

The meetings will be free and open to the public.

Douglas County is set for a second reading Nov. 1 on an ordinance which mandates bear-proof trash containers under certain conditions in all areas of the county except the towns of Minden and Gardnerville which have their own garbage pickup service.

County commissioners turned down a request last week for $50,000 from the state Department of Wildlife to assist with bear management after a record number of sightings and damage from nuisance bears.

Washoe County commissioners voted Tuesday to spend $55,000 to educate their residents about the black bear incursions.

The Washoe County effort includes a community-wide education and awareness program and installation of wildlife-proof trash enclosures, starting at Davis Creek State Park.

An ordinance imposing fines on residents who leave garbage outside without bear-proof cans could be considered later.

DETAILS

-- To be contacted with the dates for the Business Council of Douglas County community awareness bear-proofing meetings, contact Renea Louie at 782-6715 or e-mail bizcouncildc@aol.com.

-- Douglas County commissioners are set for a second reading Nov. 1 on the bear-proof trash container ordinance. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. at the Douglas County Administration Building, 1616 Eighth St., Minden. The item is No. 19 on the agenda. Information, Lisa Granahan, assistant to the county manager, 782-6268; Jay Hoogestraat, code enforcement officer, 783-6439.