Bears begin annual raid of trash cans

RENO -- It wasn't an especially long winter's nap, but black bears in western Nevada and the Sierra are starting to wake up -- and they're hungry.

A bear that wildlife officials said probably has become accustomed to people was seen late Monday rummaging in a trash can at a southwest Reno home. "It was eating garbage," resident Shannon Aramini said. "He wasn't scared at all."

So begins another year of bear encounters.

"This is the time of year bears get sighted," said Chris Healey, Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman. "It all borders bear country, so it wouldn't be surprising if bears show up periodically."

The number of "urban bears" encountering humans has risen steadily in the past decade, especially at Lake Tahoe, said Carl Lackey, an NDOW biologist.