Dogs major players in NDOW bear program
By Guy Clifton, Reno Gazette-Journal
Carl Lackey doesn’t go anywhere without his Rooster.
That includes trucks, ATVs, helicopters, ski lifts, classrooms and everywhere else Lackey’s job as a bear biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife takes him.
Rooster is Lackey’s 10-year-old Karelian Bear Dog, who – when he isn’t being a slightly oversized lap dog at home – is an integral part of the team when it comes to releasing bears captured in populated areas. Rooster, and his 10-month old daughter, Dazzle, have a job – to harass the bear by chasing it, barking in its face, and making it run away or climb a tree.
Combined with a shotgun firing rubber bullets, the idea is to make the bears not want to return. NDOW has had more success with this procedure than by relocating the bears, many of which return to the capture site within days or weeks if no aversion techniques are used.