By Jamie Wanzek, Moonshine Ink

Jasper, a bear well-known to Incline Village residents, was habitually seen ambling around the North Lake neighborhood for more than 10 years, often trailed by young cubs. In May of this year, in an attempt to scare Jasper and her three youngsters away from trash, a Washoe County deputy shot at the bear with what she believed were nonlethal bullets.

The incident with Jasper sparked a revival of criticism toward bear management in Nevada, with NDOW at the center of the maelstrom. The bear’s death led to a change.org petition addressed to Washoe Sheriff Chuck Allen demanding the “needs to answer for the completely unnecessary death of Jasper,” picking up 5,500 signatures.

Jasper’s death is an ongoing personnel investigation and details cannot be released, according to Bob Herman, the public information officer for Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. But Herman confirms the agency has ordered and received a number of 40 mm nonlethal weapons for their Incline Village deputies, in response to the incident, and the deputies have also been put through a program on how to respond to wildlife with their nonlethal arms.

The conflict between NDOW’s bear management and local wildlife advocates has a long and entangled history that recently entered the courts with a spurt of suits and countersuits.

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