Bear Naked Truth

CDFW scientific staff acted quickly to avert a house fire and help save a property on Butler Avenue in South Lake Tahoe Aug. 21 after a black bear broke into an unoccupied home and ignited its gas stove.

Fire is among the dangers and public safety concerns when bears break into homes looking for human-sourced food and trash, which is a near-daily occurrence in the Lake Tahoe Basin and a consequence of bears that have grown accustomed to and dependent on human sources of food.

A CDFW staff member was called to collect DNA evidence from a home in a neighborhood near Butler Avenue after a bear break-in was reported. While attempting to locate the two bears hazed out of the home, CDFW’s staff came across another home on Butler Avenue with a pushed-in window and trash scattered about – telltale signs of another bear break-in. The staff member knocked on the door, smelled gas and called 911 for help. Items were melting on the stovetop. Emergency responders arrived, turned off the gas and averted a potentially catastrophic fire to the unoccupied home, neighboring homes and the surrounding forest. The two bears—an adult female and its cub—had fled up a nearby tree.

The female bear carries the yellow ear tag numbered 753 and is well-known to CDFW and the local community. This particular bear has a long history of home invasions and escalating conflict behavior in South Lake Tahoe dating to 2022.  Since July 20, 2025, DNA evidence has linked this bear to at least 12 home invasions in South Lake Tahoe of both occupied and unoccupied homes. Sadly, the bear is teaching this behavior to its cub and potentially perpetuating another generation of human-bear conflict and bear-related property damage in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Shortly thereafter, the CDFW staff member was monitoring the two bears up the tree, carrying only a paintball gun for bear-hazing purposes, when members of the public arrived threatening the staff member’s safety and using vulgar language to incite fear.

A local social media post erroneously inflamed the situation by asking people nearby to “witness” the situation.

Ultimately, South Lake Tahoe Police were called to diffuse the situation so CDFW’s staff member could get safely to their vehicle. CDFW will continue to monitor the situation while prioritizing the safety of the South Lake Tahoe community and its wildlife.

CDFW reminds the public to prevent further conflict with bears by securing food and trash. You can find out more on CDFW’s website.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has lethally removed a conflict bear that has threatened campers, damaged vehicles and destroyed commercial and residential property in the Lake Tahoe Basin consistently over the past four years.

On July 7, CDFW biologists and wildlife officers responded to requests for assistance to help aggressively haze several bears seeking human food at campgrounds in the Meeks Bay area of South Lake Tahoe.

CDFW staff were positioned to spend the night at a local campsite, situated between two popular California State Parks, to safeguard campers and keep bears away from tents, vehicles and human food sources. These efforts are part of ongoing operations, in conjunction with our partners, to provide a supportive, on-the-ground presence in order to haze bears away from populated areas. Hazing bears is an important tool to create negative conditioning to human presence, to keep bears wild and naturally fearful of people while not harming the animal.

During this hazing detail, at approximately 8 p.m., CDFW staff were notified by a concerned citizen that there was a bear causing extensive damage to an unoccupied home in the area. CDFW staff responded to this report and saw a large bear identified by its ear tag numbered 717 inside of a home. This bear, with a long history of human-wildlife conflict, was well-known to CDFW staff. The bear had been captured, tagged and relocated to wild habitat in 2021 following a series of home and vehicle break-ins. The bear quickly returned to the Lake Tahoe Basin and resumed its conflict behavior, including breaking into vehicles, businesses and charging toward campers to gain access to their food. DNA had been collected from 717, and the bear was also hazed on multiple occasions over the course of several years.

This bear had become “trap shy,” meaning that despite many attempts by CDFW to recapture the bear, it would not go into a trap. Based on its concerning behavior, property damage, and repeated negative encounters with humans, the bear was approved for lethal removal.

When CDFW staff clearly identified the bear on July 7 based on the number and color of its ear tag, it was lethally removed. As with many Tahoe bears that subsist on a diet of human food and trash, the bear had severely rotted teeth and was extremely large, estimated close to 400 pounds.

CDFW collected the bear’s skull for educational and scientific purposes and returned the animal’s remains to the forest, which mimics natural decomposition cycles and returns nutrients to the ecosystem. The bear was initially left to decompose in the forest and has since been moved to minimize accidental encounters and potential disturbance of the remains.

This unfortunate but necessary wildlife management action reinforces the need to keep bears wild and prevent them from accessing human food and garbage, which often leads to escalating conflict behavior and a threat to public safety. CDFW’s black bear policy prioritizes nonlethal conflict mitigation measures whenever possible, including eliminating bear attractants and bear-proofing structures, in order to support a healthy and thriving black bear population.

California’s Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan (PDF), updated this spring for the first time in more than two decades, outlines the best available science in order to understand the state’s bear population and make successful and effective management decisions to help black bears thrive. CDFW continues to closely monitor the state’s black bear population through the use of GPS collars, den checks, camera traps, harvested tooth samples and DNA collection.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California State Parks have removed a bear that was a danger to public safety in South Lake Tahoe with a long history of human conflict, including multiple home invasions and vehicle break-ins.

At 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, the light-colored female bear, or sow, entered an occupied trailer belonging to a camper at Eagle Point Campground within Emerald Bay State Park. After being awoken by the bear trying to gain entry, the camper attempted to scare the bear off by banging pots and pans, screaming at the bear and making a loud commotion. Undeterred, the bear forced its way into the trailer and swiped at the camper, leaving her with cuts and bruises on her arms and hand and requiring an escorted trip to the hospital. Later that same morning, the bear ripped the door open on a camper-van with teenagers sleeping inside and later was reported harassing other campers within the same campground.

Following the camper attack, the bear was deemed a “Public Safety Bear” under CDFW’s 2022 Black Bear Policy in California (PDF) and targeted for immediate removal. The bear was located in the vicinity of the Eagle Point Campground the following day, June 23, and euthanized by a State Parks ranger. DNA testing confirmed it was the same bear responsible for the attack.

CDFW and California State Parks had been attempting to trap the bear since June 17. The sow’s two cubs of the year have been captured and delivered to a wildlife rehabilitation facility in northern California in the hope they can be rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

“As wildlife professionals who devote our careers to the health and well-being of California’s fish and wildlife species, euthanasia is a measure of last resort,” said Morgan Kilgour, regional manager for CDFW’s North Central Region. “Our foremost responsibility, however, remains the protection of human life and the safety of the Tahoe region.”

Since the spring, the sow had generated multiple 911 emergency calls and unrelenting conflict activity. DNA evidence linked the bear to multiple attempted home and vehicle break-ins along Cascade Road in South Lake Tahoe and many confrontations at the Eagle Point Campground.

On June 10, the bear entered an occupied vehicle at the campground with a child fastened to a child seat inside.

The bear had been unresponsive to multiple attempts to haze it out of human-occupied areas. The bear had been aggressively hazed by four different agencies, including CDFW, State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service on at least seven different occasions, yet the conflict behavior persisted.

“California State Parks is really the gold standard when it comes to human-bear conflict prevention,” said Kilgour. “There is nothing State Parks could or should have done differently at Emerald Bay State Park. State Parks is a model with their well-maintained bear boxes and other bear-proof infrastructure and clean campgrounds. They do a thorough job of educating their visitors and camp hosts on preventing human-bear conflicts.”

CDFW hopes for a better outcome for the sow’s two 5-month-old cubs now at a wildlife rehabilitation facility permitted to care for and rehabilitate bears.

“Bear cubs learn everything from their mothers – good and bad behavior alike,” Kilgour explained. “A mother bear that constantly searches human-occupied areas for unnatural food sources, breaks into homes and vehicles teaches this behavior to her cubs and perpetuates another generation of human-bear conflict. Removing these cubs from this conflict activity early in their lives gives them a chance that they can return to the wild and live as wild bears should.”

Photos: The female bear euthanized by officials had a long history of home invasions and vehicle break-ins in South Lake Tahoe stretching over two years. The sow destroyed the vehicle door above trying to gain entry.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) North Central Region this summer began offering residents and property owners a new tool to minimize human-bear conflicts: “unwelcome mats” that deliver a jolt of electricity when bears get too close, curious or comfortable around a residence and step on the electrified doormat.

These “eMats” have been used safely and effectively in front of doors and below windows for over a decade in the Lake Tahoe Basin and elsewhere around the country. When bears receive the temporary shock, this “tough love” can help train them to stay away from human dwellings and remain in the wild. Last month, the Human-Wildlife Conflicts team from CDFW’s North Central Region started issuing these devices to members of the public.

Jason Holley, a longtime CDFW wildlife biologist and black bear conflict specialist, says: “The plan is to temporarily loan these limited-supply eMats to our highest-need residents. These folks are already practicing sound bear-awareness techniques but are still having issues."

Since launching the eMat lending program in June, these non-lethal devices have been well-received by North Central Region residents and may be available to the public in other areas of the state soon. People wearing shoes and rubber-soled footwear are immune from the shock, and the devices can be shut off easily when people and pets are around.

CDFW has a very limited supply of 20 e-mats for use statewide, including the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin where human-black bear interactions are very common. CDFW managers hope the public will see how effective these eMats can be in discouraging bear conflicts and then buy or build their own. CDFW will also be looking for options to acquire additional eMats if demand is high. The eMats retail for about $500 or can be made using common supplies found at local hardware stores.

Residents experiencing significant and active conflicts with black bears in the 17-county North Central Region interested in an eMat can call the North Central Region’s Human-Wildlife Conflict Hotline at (916) 358-2917. For more information on black bears, including living and recreating safely in bear country, please see CDFW’s black bear page.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been alerted to flyers posted recently in the Lake Tahoe Basin encouraging people to feed bears and allow them to access garbage in order “to survive.” This is false and extremely harmful misinformation that is detrimental for bears.

Bears are perfectly capable of surviving on their own and far better off without any human handouts. By intentionally feeding bears, people are quickly conditioning those bears to associate humans and homes as food sources. Bears baited by left-out food and garbage are conditioned to cross the boundary of safe behavior by approaching people, cars, houses, etc., to seek out that food reward. This changes a bear’s natural behaviors and greatly increases the potential for conflict.

It’s not possible for communities in bear country to coexist with bears unless people respect boundaries with bears and other wildlife. This includes not feeding wildlife, keeping garbage and other attractants away from bears and wildlife and educating oneself on all the best practices when living in or visiting bear country.

Living in bear country is a great privilege that comes with responsibilities. So please take the time to check out the online resources below to inform yourself and help others be part of the solution.

Thank you for your help in keeping Tahoe bears wild.

Online Black Bear Resources:

• CDFW: Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Black Bears
• CDFW: Bear Naked Truth Blog
• BearWise
• Keep Tahoe Bears Wild

Photo courtesy of the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

###

Media Contact:
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

Three bear cubs that were captured with their mother in South Lake Tahoe this summer are progressing toward re-release into the wild.

The cubs’ mother, called 64F based on her DNA being the 64th unique female bear DNA entered into the CDFW wildlife forensic database, is known for breaking into at least 21 homes and causing property damage in the South Lake Tahoe area. The sow is also one of multiple bears identified by the public last year as “Hank the Tank.” She was safely immobilized in early August and taken to a wildlife facility near Springfield, Colorado, for permanent placement. The cubs, at least one of which accompanied her on break-ins, are being rehabilitated at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue near Petaluma.

The three male cubs, who were separated from 64F because she is not a candidate for rehabilitation while they may still be released to the wild, are now about 8-months-old and were recently given a clean bill of health by veterinarians.

“All three bears looked good,” said Dr. Brandon Munk, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) senior wildlife veterinarian. “We did a physical exam and baseline blood work for each. We gave them minor therapeutics to knock down internal and external parasite loads.”

One of the cubs has been recovering from injuries suffered while in the wild. The cub had a fractured hind foot and an associated wound from being struck by a vehicle. It also had an injury from an air rifle pellet.

“The fractures are healing, and the wound is almost healed. The cub is moving normally with no limp. All indications are that he’s doing fine,” said Munk.

The cubs’ rehabilitation protocol at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue includes reinforcement of foraging skills which they’ll need in the wild. For example, staff at the facility have placed logs, rocks, branches and other structures in the enclosure to provide the bears with climbing and balancing practice. Staff have also been burying and hiding food to allow the cubs to practice foraging.

“We all want to give these cubs the best chance at living a life in the wild,” said Munk.

If the cubs’ rehabilitation progresses as planned, they will be re-released into the wild in spring 2024.

Hank the Tank’s cubs raised in captivity at Sonoma County facility

###

Video credit:
KRON-TV

Media contact:
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications: Peter.Tira@Wildlife.ca.gov

Bears Destined for Wildlife Sanctuary in Colorado and Rehabilitation Facility in Sonoma County

Wildlife biologists for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) this morning safely immobilized a large female conflict bear responsible for at least 21 DNA-confirmed home break-ins and extensive property damage in the South Lake Tahoe area since 2022. Her three cubs were also captured in the effort.

Pending a successful veterinary check, CDFW has secured permission from the State of Colorado to transport the female black bear, known as 64F, and place it with The Wild Animal Sanctuary near Springfield, Colorado, which has agreed to care for it in its expansive facilities. This large black bear is one of multiple bears identified by the public last year as “Hank the Tank” based on visual observations.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has the authority to approve only one such placement and is using that authorization for this bear. Relocation is not typically an option for conflict animals over concern that relocating an animal will relocate the conflict behavior to a different community. However, given the widespread interest in this bear, and the significant risk of a serious incident involving the bear, CDFW is employing an alternative solution to safeguard the bear family as well as the people in the South Lake Tahoe Community.

The sow's three young cubs, which have accompanied the bear on recent home break-ins, will potentially be relocated to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, a CDFW-permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility in Petaluma in hopes they can discontinue the negative behaviors they learned from the sow and can be returned to the wild. All three cubs were given a health assessment in the field before transfer and will receive additional examination at the facility. One of the cubs is believed to have suffered serious injuries from a vehicle strike earlier this month, though is still mobile. The injured cub will be given a thorough veterinary evaluation.

Bear 64F has been monitored closely by CDFW since 2022. In March of 2023, she was discovered denning under a residence in South Lake Tahoe along with her three male cubs of the year. Staff from CDFW and the Nevada Department of Wildlife immobilized the bear, collected DNA evidence, attached an ear tag and affixed a satellite tracking collar to the bear. Staff also implanted Passive Integrated Transponders, known as PIT tags, into the cubs for future identification. The PIT tags contain a microchip similar to what’s implanted into pet dogs and cats for identification.

Bear 64F shed the satellite tracking collar last May. The bear’s DNA, however, has been confirmed at 21 home invasions in the South Lake Tahoe area between February 2022 and May 2023 with the bear suspected in additional break-ins and property damage.

CDFW’s updated Black Bear Policy (PDF), released in February 2022, allows for the placement and relocation of conflict bears in limited circumstances when other management options have been exhausted and as an alternative to lethal actions.

Media Contact:
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

Are your bird feeders down, your BBQ clean and your bee boxes protected? If you live or maintain a residence in bear country, it’s time to prepare for spring bear activity. That means eliminating attractants that can bring bears to your mountain home and property. Even unlikely attractants such as plant fertilizer, gasoline and antifreeze can bring bears around. A bear’s nose is 100 times more powerful than a human’s and seven times stronger than that of a bloodhound. The “BearWise At Home Checklist” can help keep people, pets and property safe this spring – and bears wild.

Facing a host of challenging medical ailments and a less-than-hopeful prognosis, an approximately 10-month-old male black bear from South Lake Tahoe was humanely euthanized on Monday at the Oakland Zoo where he was receiving treatment. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) veterinary team remained in close contact with the Oakland Zoo’s veterinary team, and after considering treatments and likely outcomes agreed that the cub was unlikely to have a good quality of life even if treatments were successful.

“This poor cub had a whole host of medical issues,” said CDFW Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Brandon Munk. “He was never going to be a normal bear again and would have required lifelong medical care in captivity. We didn’t want a poor quality of life for the bear and undue strain on any zoo or sanctuary caring for him.”

The severely underweight bear was brought to CDFW earlier this month after he was found in a public area of South Lake Tahoe. The bear was suffering from significant pneumonia, a broken foot with an infection that was likely spreading to surrounding bones, a dislocated wrist, severe hair loss and skin ulceration caused by fungal and bacterial infections, gastrointestinal parasites, an ear infection and an umbilical hernia.

CDFW received the bear on Nov. 10, did an assessment and on Nov. 11 transferred the bear to Oakland Zoo’s world-class veterinary medical facility. The zoo’s veterinarians were successful in relieving the bear’s pain and discomfort and stabilizing his condition. However, the bear’s condition worsened despite treatment. If veterinarians would have continued treatment, the bear would have required round-the-clock sedation, as well as potentially placing him on a ventilator.

“The fact that he had worsened, despite treatment, and would have required the highest level of invasive care, were the biggest deciding factors for euthanasia,” said Oakland Zoo Senior Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Sadler. “The potential for this bear to have a good life under human care, even with significant veterinary intervention, was very low. We didn’t want to see him undergo months of stress and painful treatment only to be left with conditions that would cause discomfort throughout his life.”

###

Media Contact:
Ken Paglia, CDFW Communications: Ken.Paglia@wildlife.ca.gov

Hopeful news to report from the Tahoe Basin on National Black Bear Day, which is recognized annually the first Saturday in June.

ABC 7 Los Angeles shared video recently of what Tahoe Basin residents believe to be the Tamarack Fire bear splashing and playing happily in a South Lake Tahoe pond. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officials say they can't know the bear's identity for certain since the Tamarack Fire bear wasn’t tagged or radio-collared prior to its escape but their hope is that residents are correct and the Tamarack Fire bear is the one enjoying itself in the ABC 7 video.

The Tamarack Fire bear, you’ll remember, made headlines last summer and prompted local concern after the young bear escaped from its enclosure at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, where it was recovering from burns suffered in the Tamarack Fire.

CDFW ultimately decided against recapturing the bear after various sightings and observations in the wild revealed the bear to be moving and functioning properly with no obvious signs of injury and behaving as a wild and healthy bear should. Surrounding fresh scat indicated the bear was actively foraging on wild foods. More information on the decision is available in an earlier post.

While conflict bears in the Tahoe Basin often capture the attention and interest of the news media and the public, it’s good to be reminded that many of the Tahoe Basin’s black bears still live healthy, wild lives free from human conflict and – mostly – out of the spotlight.

On National Black Bear Day, we can thank ABC 7 Los Angeles – and perhaps the Tamarack Fire bear itself – for the reminder.