Become a BEAR League Volunteer!
Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization. They are our eyes and ears, our boots on the ground, and deeply valued, trusted members of the community – ready to help both our two-and four-legged neighbors with care and compassion when it matters most. Our volunteers educate their neighbors about how best to coexist with bears and respond to calls for help when communities need support.
Volunteer calls may include evicting bears from houses or crawl spaces, encouraging bears away from roadways and busy urban areas, checking on injured bears, or stepping in to assist with other urgent situations as needed. We also deeply value volunteers who help with public education and outreach events, playing an important role in sharing our mission and strengthening community understanding.
Each year, we typically hold one small training for approximately eight new volunteers. We are quite selective about who we welcome onto our team, as this work requires trust, commitment, and alignment with our mission. Trainings are held each May or June and include a presentation by our founder and Executive Director, Ann Bryant. Training covers the BEAR League philosophy, black bear biology and behavior, local bear-related policy and politics and how we operate within those systems, as well as best practices for helping Tahoe residents and visitors coexist with our furry neighbors.
Our work tends to be unpredictable! Volunteers must be dedicated, flexible, and willing to drop what they’re doing to respond to a call. That said, true emergencies are relatively infrequent, and most volunteers find that this role fits well into their existing lifestyle without dominating it.
Because of the nature of our response work, volunteers must live in Tahoe year-round and be physically able to assist in field situations. New volunteers always respond alongside experienced team members so they feel supported and confident until they are fully comfortable handling calls independently.
Above all, our volunteers share a deep respect for bears, a passion for protecting them, and a commitment to representing the BEAR League with care, professionalism, and compassion in their communities.
If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! Please email bearsnsquirrels@sbcglobal.net and bearleagueinfo@gmail.com with responses to the following:
- Tell us a bit about yourself and why you are interested in volunteering with the BEAR League.
- Where in the Tahoe Basin do you live and/or work?
- Please describe your typical day-to-day availability to respond to calls.
- Are you interested in helping with outreach events and other educational activities?
Please also include your mailing address and contact information so we can add you to our newsletter mailing list!