Designing to save Tahoe's bears

We live in Tahoe, so we live with bears. The BEAR League’s commitment to bears is multi-faceted and never-ending.

For 25 years, the Bear League has been working 24/7 all year long, in any way possible to help the bears and other wildlife, and to assist people who live in or visit Bear Country, in hopes of furthering their Mission: People Living in Harmony with Bears.

The BEAR League’s mission is to encourage respect and tolerance for Tahoe’s bears by helping people understand the true and gentle nature of this amazing icon of the forest.

Besides rescue work, outreach, bear/wildlife advocacy, introducing wildlife to young hearts, etc., they answer thousands of phone calls on the Bear Hot-Line. During the busy season---spring, summer, fall---they may have as many as 150 calls a day.

How can you help?

The Bear League has grown from three founders (Ann Bryant, Linda Brown and Kathleen Tavernier) to more than 2,000 members nationwide. Each spring, in March or April, we send out a membership campaign. We ask our members to renew only once a year, although some members send a monthly donation, which is terrific!

I started volunteering with the Bear League several years ago by designing their newsletters and helping with the annual "Take a Bear to Dinner" mailing. I strongly support their mission and am grateful to be a part of their membership.

If you would like to learn more about the Bear League, make a donation, or ask about volunteer opportunities, you can email Ann Bryant at bearsnsquirrels@sbcglobal.net or go to their website at www.savebears.org.