Tahoe bears finally go night-night

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000 | 12:18 p.m.

Recent transmissions from radio collars show the bruins have hunkered down for a long winter's nap, Chris Healy with the Nevada Division of Wildlife said Wednesday.

The bears usually go into hibernation sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when a lack of natural food lulls them to sleep to conserve energy.

But winter's late arrival kept many bears up beyond their normal bed time. Some were still foraging in neighborhoods and garbage cans a few weeks ago.

Since mid-January, hefty storms dumped up to 10 feet of snow in the Sierra, enticing the bears to curl up and get some shuteye, Healy said.

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