The Nevada Department of Wildlife said that bear activities in Lake Tahoe area increase before winter hibernation, and it has decided to keep a track of these activities. Officials said that drought conditions and human errors, involving trash, are directly impacting the growing bear issues.

A report released in 2014 by Carl Lackey, the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s chief biologist, revealed that about 704 human-bear conflicts were reported in 2014, a number which was up from 498 in 2013. The report included Western Nevada including Washoe, Douglas, Carson counties and outlying regions, said the officials.

Chris Healy, the department’s spokesperson, said in a statement that bear calls in 2015 have increased and the wildlife bear activity is already expected to surpass the numbers of 2014.

Healy said if the number surpasses the figures in 2014, the situation is going to be devastating in September.

The officials said that the bears are entering into an autumn period of increased calorie consumption, and the bear spotting will continue to grow. They also said that 14% of last year’s complaints came from Douglas County, including Stateline and Zephyr Cove on the South Shore.

According to the report, Nevada Department of Wildlife handled 140 bears between 2005 and 2014. Animals are tagged, tattooed and are even implanted with scannable microchips.

Drought conditions contributed to the number of calls, when nuts, berries and other natural sources of food aren’t prevalent, they start sniffing around people’s trash for meals, Healy said.