RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada wildlife officials say bear sightings in residential neighborhoods have increased as a result of extreme heat drying up the animals' food sources.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reported the Nevada Department of Wildlife says when food sources are reduced in the high country, bears move to developed areas where humans unintentionally leave out food.
Recent social media videos show bears wandering through Reno neighborhoods, while a video from Tahoe shows a bear taking a bag of chips from a grocery store.
State biologists normally do not receive bear reports until October or November, but this year the calls began around June.
