Carson may implement Douglas bear ordinance

Carson City is proposing a bear-proof container ordinance modeled on the one implemented by Douglas County in 2007.

Douglas became the first Nevada county to expand its bear ordinance outside of the Lake Tahoe basin.

The proposed Carson ordinance requires that after the first incident of a bear accessing a citizen's garbage the responsible party will receive a verbal or written warning. The second incident of a bear accessing a citizen's garbage within two years from receiving a verbal or written warning, the responsible party will be issued a mandatory court citation or the responsible party can purchase or construct a bear-proof collection bin, container or structure within ninety days of the incident. For a successive incident within two years of a second incident, the responsible party will be cited and if convicted punished for an infraction with a fine of not less than $100.

Four public workshops are scheduled in August to gather Carson City residents' input on a proposed ordinance on bear issues.

"The bottom line is bears that become habituated to human garbage are going to eventually become problem bears," said Carl Lackey, bear biologist with Nevada Department of Wildlife. "We've seen it over and over again, when the garbage problem is handled, the bears move on," Lackey continued, "I'm confident the citizens can find a solution that works for their community and for the health of the bear population."

There will be four identical workshops that will include a presentation and question and answer period, in different locations in Carson City.

"Our goals are to keep bears away from homes for public safety," said Carson City Animal Services Director Pat Wiggins. "Securing garbage will help home owners and bears."

Those include: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ormsby Room of the Sheriff's Administration Building, 911 East Musser St.; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Reynolds Building, Room 113 of Western Nevada College, 2201 West College Parkway; 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in the Bonanza Room of the Community Center, 851 E. William St.; and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in the board room of the Carson City School District, 1402 West King St.

To view or download a draft of the proposed ordinance, visit www.carson-city.nv.us or call Pat Wiggins at 887-2171 for more information.