LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KTXL) – California black bears thrive in the Lake Tahoe basin.

Their number is estimated to be in the hundreds, and they are very adept at entering homes and huts in search of food.

“I make a living in bear-proof homes,” said Ryan Welch, owner of Bear Busters. “It’s hard to keep up with the calls and the work. “

Welch designs, manufactures and installs discreet wiring around windows and doors to keep bears out.

“It’s an electric fence energizer. It’s been used for cattle and cattle for over 100 years, and we’re just changing that to work in people’s homes, ”Welch explained. “We place these wires in key places where we know a bear is interacting with a door or window.”

Sometimes these locations include the third floor.

“It’s very easy for a bear to stand on a ramp and get to an upper story,” Welch said.

In front of the sliding glass doors, Welch installed removable electric bungee cords at a strategic height.

“Our goal is to keep a bear out of the house. And if the cables were too high and a bear entered the door, they would walk right below, ”Welch said.

For the front door, he makes electrified doormats that are no problem for rubber-soled shoes but shock bear paws.

“If they walk on the electric mat or touch the electric bungee cords, they just walk out of the property,” Welch said.

On the Bear Busters YouTube channel, viewers can see how smart bears are at turning doorknobs and they provide insight into the damage they do when they enter a home.

“When they have food sources, they will come back. They will keep coming back until something changes and dissuades them from ownership, ”Welch said.

When a bear touches electrified wires, the shake is enough to send a strong message but not enough to cause injury.

“It can’t hurt the bear. Yes, it hurts, but it does no physical harm to an animal or a human being, ”Welch explained.

Proximity to nature draws many people to Lake Tahoe, but locals would like more visitors to realize that bears are part of the deal.

“Don’t blame the animals for being here. They are here. They make it what it is. They make it wonderful, ”said Ann Bryant, director of the BEAR League.

The BEAR League is a Tahoe-based non-profit organization that works tirelessly to educate people about the Tahoe bear population.

“It’s the forest. There are wild animals here. There are some very intelligent bears here. And we have to do what we can to keep them out of trouble and to keep us and them safe, ”said Bryant.

In the fall, bears look to store calories for their winter naps, and their strong sense of smell leads them to feed wherever they are.

Bryant said 2021 has been one of the busiest seasons she’s ever seen in terms of bears entering homes.

“I think it’s because there are more people, not because there are more bears,” said Bryant.

In one that received a lot of publicity, a Tahoe Vista owner was scratched in the face when she and a bear were startled in the kitchen.

Bryant recommends electrical wiring as the best way to fully protect a home, but the systems are currently in such demand that Bear Busters are booked throughout the winter.

Welch puts homeowners on a waiting list for spring.

For those who might have to wait, the BEAR League has a stash of electric mats that people can borrow for free.

“The point is to remind these bears that homes are not safe. You don’t want to walk up to a door or window thinking you’re going to come in and have ice cream. It’s going to hurt, ”said Bryant.

There are simple things every resident and visitor to Tahoe can do for their safety, the safety of their property, and the safety of the bears.

“I wish every owner here would recognize that we live in bear country and recognize that our bears have adapted to live around us faster than we have adapted to living with them and that they are more proactive in securing and protect their homes, ”Welch says.

Bryant also gave additional advice

“Close your windows, close your doors, lock them. Do not stand in a bear’s escape route if it does enter it. Call for help. Find out before you come here. Be prepared, ”she said.

Welch stressed the importance of making it difficult for bears to gain access to the property.

“Pair it with an electric fence system, bears have a negative association with your property. And eventually, they just start walking past your house looking for easier opportunities, ”Welch explained.

Bear hunters and the Bear league have lots of bear educational resources on their websites.