The Bear Cart Rebate Program is now closed. The City of Reno has reached its allotted number of eligible participants. If you would like to receive future updates regarding cart rebates, please subscribe to the mailing list. Thank you for your interest in protecting our local wildlife.
Residents with a 35, 64, or 96-gallon waste cart can subscribe to an animal-resistant cart ("bear cart") and receive a rebate (credit) for the cost difference. Residents can sign up online or request more information at [email protected].
Help Keep Bears Wild
Over 90% of black bear calls are related to unsecured trash and other household attractants. Securing garbage is the single most effective step residents can take to prevent conflicts with bears and help keep wildlife wild.
Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are constantly searching for easy, high-calorie food. Unsecured trash, pet food, birdseed, dirty grills, and other attractants can draw bears into neighborhoods, where they quickly learn to associate homes with food.
Once a bear is rewarded with human food, it is likely to return. Repeated access to these food sources can cause bears to lose their natural wariness of people, increasing the potential for property damage, public safety concerns and, in some cases, the need for wildlife management actions. Bear-resistant trash carts are one of the most effective tools for preventing human-bear conflicts. By eliminating easy access to garbage, residents can help keep bears focused on natural food sources while protecting neighborhoods and supporting the long-term conservation of Nevada's black bears.
BearWise Home Checklist
Simple actions at home can make a big difference in reducing conflicts between people and bears.
Secure Your Trash
- Use a bear-resistant trash cart whenever possible.
- Store trash in a secure garage or shed until collection day.
- Place trash carts at the curb on the morning of pickup rather than the night before.
- Keep trash cart lids fully closed and latched.
Remove Food Attractants
- Never leave pet food outdoors.
- Clean barbecue grills after each use.
- Remove bird feeders when bears are active or if a bear has been seen nearby.
- Pick ripe fruit from trees and remove fallen fruit promptly.
- Clean up spilled seed and other food around your yard.
Keep Your Property BearWise
- Keep garage doors closed whenever possible.
- Lock vehicle doors and never leave food, coolers or scented items inside.
- Secure outdoor refrigerators, freezers and coolers.
- Store livestock feed and other animal food in bear-resistant containers.
- Compost responsibly by avoiding meat, dairy and greasy food scraps.
If You Encounter a Bear
- Stay calm and give the bear plenty of space.
- Never feed a bear, intentionally or unintentionally.
- If it is safe to do so, make loud noises from a safe location to encourage the bear to leave.
- Keep pets under your control and indoors if a bear is nearby.
- Report bears that repeatedly seek out human food or create public safety concerns to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Every Resident Can Make a Difference
Preventing human-bear conflicts starts at home. By securing trash and removing food attractants, residents can help keep bears from becoming food conditioned, protect their neighborhoods and ensure Nevada's black bears remain wild for generations to come.
Who should apply?
There are approximately 600 to 700 bears in northwestern Nevada. Areas in Reno with high bear activity include Caughlin Ranch, along the Steamboat, Last Chance and Lake Ditches, south Reno west of Virginia Street, and along Mt. Rose Hwy. These neighborhoods consistently experience the highest number of human-bear conflicts due to their proximity to natural bear habitat, making animal-resistant trash carts one of the most effective ways residents can help keep bears wild and reduce conflicts. Please visit NDOW's Living with Bears webpage to learn more about bears in our region.