Wildlife officials warn Tahoe residents to be aware of bears in the area due to a mix-up of the ecosystem after last summer's Caldor Fire.
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Ann Bryant, Bear League Executive Director said some of the bears that lived in the areas where the Caldor fire burned changed their habits.
"The areas that had to evacuate, the people all left and their homes were no longer protected," Bryant told KCBS Radio. "Their dogs weren’t there barking, they weren’t there to yell at bears when they came upon their decks and so the bears kind of had free reign."
She estimated about 20% of bears didn't go into the den for hibernation and those that migrated from areas that burned scavenged for food.
"And a lot of people forgot to lock their door, they left food in their refrigerators and in the garages and so the bears pretty much had a party and is like, yeah the people are gone this is our town now," she said.
And now there is a concern that there will be more bear encounters as Tahoe transitions to spring.
"We are a little worried that it could cause some problems it's always been an issue but it might be more so," she said.
She added that some of these bears may soon be ready to go home as new growth takes hold in the burn scar in mid-spring early summer.
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