Bears Return to Caughlin Ranch and South Reno
Keep trash bins secured until pickup morning, since bears are actively searching for food before hibernation.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Wildlife
Bears are back in south Reno, and a black bear was spotted again in the Caughlin Ranch area the night before this report, with neighbors in Damonte Ranch seeing similar activity. If you live near the hills, the advice is simple: keep your trash in until morning.
Why it matters
Bears are on a late-fall food push before hibernation, and the closer homes sit to open ground, the more those trips for food turn into neighborhood encounters. Reno's south-side neighborhoods sit right on that edge, so the question for residents is how quickly the habit of securing food catches up with the season.
Bears can spend up to 20 hours a day foraging before hibernation, and American black bears are the only bear species in northern Nevada. The available reports do not include a sighting count compared with prior seasons, and it is not known how many bears are active in south Reno.
The details
A bear was spotted in the Caughlin Ranch area on the night before publication, and viewers have sent bear videos to the station in recent weeks. Sightings are common in south Reno and near Damonte Ranch, where some residents already freeze strong-smelling food before putting it in the trash. Bears follow water and scent trails to food, and leaving bins out overnight is one of the easiest ways to draw them up to a house.
Timeline
Recent weeks: viewers send bear videos to the station.
November 10, 2026: a bear is seen again in the Caughlin Ranch area, the night before publication.
The Truckee Meadows View
Black bears in northern Nevada follow a predictable late-fall feeding push before they hibernate, and that pattern is what is now bringing them into Caughlin Ranch and Damonte Ranch. The sightings described here fit that seasonal rhythm rather than marking a new change in the valley's wildlife.
If you live in Caughlin Ranch, Damonte Ranch, or elsewhere in south Reno, bins left at the curb overnight can draw a bear to your driveway. Freezing strong-smelling food until pickup morning, and keeping pet food, bird feeders, and grills put away, is the simplest change to make this week.
The takeaway
Black bears are searching hard for food this time of year, and the surest protection is keeping trash in until pickup morning. Watch for sightings in your own neighborhood and report anything that looks like a bear near homes.
Further reading
For more on the animals sharing our hillsides, see the Wildlife section.
