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Former State Senator Claims Bear League Harassing Him Over Trap In Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE (CBS13) — A former Nevada state senator says a bear continues to damage his home and wants to trap it, but the Bear League learned of his plans, and he claims they harassed him and camped outside his property.

Amy Buckley says the real menace on her block may be her neighbor.

"The kids are coming back and forth from the beach. They pass that bear trap and that's a concern for me as a mom," she said.

CBS13 tried to talk to former state senator William O'Donnell, but couldn't track him down over the phone or at his Tahoe home.

But his position is clearly laid out in a complaint where he seeks "protection against stalking or harassment" from members of the Bear League.

"It is clear that these people are harassing me and preventing the trapping and re-location of a nuisance bear," he wrote in the complaint.

He says advocates have camped out in front of his home, written nasty emails and made rude phone calls. The 64-year-old also cites a profanity-laced text message and another calling him a "bear killer," saying he wants to live without fear of what these people do.

Susanna Kintz, an attorney for the Bear League, says the emails are exaggerations.

"I think they were exaggerated. I think that he doesn't feel that the bear league volunteers have a right to question his choice," she said.

A judge denied his request for the protective order, and now neighbors are concerned it will only escalate.

While bear trapping is not illegal, the attorney for the Bear League says the hope is this case will create more dialogue about the ways we can co-exist in a bear's natural habitat.

"A bear trap doesn't eliminate the risk that the bear is going to return to the property and cause damage," Kintz said.

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