LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev., Oct. 5, 2026 – Fall is a busy time for bears in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and wildlife officials are reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert as bears spend more time on the move in search of food.

During hyperphagia, the period when bears consume as many calories as possible in preparation for winter, bears can spend much of the day foraging. That search for food takes them across highways, neighborhoods and other busy roads throughout the Tahoe Basin.

At the same time, shorter fall days mean more drivers are traveling during low-light hours when wildlife can be difficult to see. A collision with a bear can result in serious or fatal injuries to the animal, orphaned cubs, property damage, and potential injuries to drivers and passengers.

Wildlife agency experts respond to bear-vehicle collisions throughout the Tahoe Basin each year, but the total number can be difficult to determine. Not every collision is reported, and animals struck by vehicles may leave the roadway before they are found. Road and weather conditions, carcass removal, and other factors can also make it difficult to consistently track wildlife-vehicle mortality.

A black bear walking across a paved road with double yellow center lines
Black bear crosses SR 89 by Leona Allen – Team Bear

Bears in the Tahoe Basin can be active at any time of day or night. During hyperphagia, they may travel farther and more frequently as they search for natural foods as well as unsecured garbage and other human-provided attractants. Bears that regularly find food in developed areas also spend more time around roads, homes, and businesses, increasing their risk of being struck by vehicles. Watch When Bears and Humans Collideto learn more about preventing bear-vehicle collisions.

What Drivers Can Do

  • Slow down and follow posted speed limits, particularly at dawn, dusk, and at night when visibility is reduced.
  • Stay alert for wildlife along roadways. Bears can cross roads quickly and unexpectedly.
  • If you see one bear, watch for others. Female bears may be traveling with cubs, and another bear could be nearby or preparing to cross.
  • Never stop in a travel lane or along a highway to view or photograph wildlife. Stopping can create dangerous traffic conditions and place both people and wildlife at risk.
  • Do not swerve to avoid wildlife. Sudden swerving can cause drivers to lose control, leave the roadway, or enter oncoming traffic.
  • Watch for wildlife warning signs and remain especially attentive in areas where wildlife crossings are common.
  • Avoid distractions and keep your eyes on the road. Drivers in the Tahoe Basin share the road with wildlife, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Drivers aren’t the only ones who can help reduce the risk of bear-vehicle collisions. Securing garbage, food, and other attractants helps keep bears from spending time in developed areas and crossing roads to reach human food sources.

To report a vehicle collision involving a bear or a dead or injured bear along a roadway:

Learn more about living responsibly with bears and helping keep Tahoe bears wild at TahoeBears.org and BearWise.org.