Bear-crossing signs go up at Tahoe after tragedy

Sunday, April 9, 2000 | 1:56 a.m.

The Nevada Department of Transportation late last month put up four bear-crossing signs along U.S. Highway 50 near Spooner Summit on Tahoe's east shore.

NDOT took the action at the request of Gail Turle of nearby Glenbrook, who thought the signs would make motorists slow down a little in the known bear-crossing area.

On Oct. 31, a mother bear was hit and killed by a vehicle there. Four hours later, her two cubs met a similar fate in the same area.

"The first time I called them (NDOT) they were totally helpful," Turle told the Tahoe Daily Tribune. "This is wonderful. It really is."

Wildlife advocates say the signs are a fitting tribute to the three bears. The signs depict a black bear sow followed by a cub.

"Not only is it a fitting memorial to the mother and her cubs, it makes it obvious there are bears here," said Ann Bryant of the local Bear Preservation League. "People come up here and don't know that."

Black bears now are waking up from hibernation and will be a common sight at Tahoe in the spring and summer.

NDOT spokeswoman Felicia Archer said similar signs could be erected at other known bear-crossing areas at Tahoe if the need arises.

"I don't know if we have any plans, but when it's justified we'll consider it," she said.

NDOT erected the signs near Spooner Summit after verifying with state wildlife officials that the highway there was a major crossing area for bears and other wildlife.

Turle said she became distraught over the bears' deaths and hopes the new signs prevent similar tragedies.

"There are deer-crossing signs, elk-crossing signs and other animal-crossing signs. Why not that?" she asked.