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Oct 21, 2007 9:17 pm US/Pacific

Food Drops For Tahoe Bears Prompt Debate

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RENO (AP) ― Dozens of residents at Lake Tahoe have been making backcountry food drops in an effort to help hungry black bears, and Nevada and California wildlife officials are unhappy about it.

Those dropping food by air and foot in remote locations are defying the officials, who have branded their actions as "misplaced kindness." Feeding wild bears is prohibited in California; Nevada has no such law.

The feeding effort comes amid a record number of bear complaints around Lake Tahoe this year, when a drought has drastically reduced their natural fare of berries and nuts.

State wildlife officials say feeding bears could make them more closely associate humans with food, but bear advocates say the recent food drops have led to a sharp drop in home break-ins in some areas.

(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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