A sizeable black bear, suspected to be a notorious mischief-maker and an unwelcome, hungry guest, was apprehended by wildlife biologists on Friday.
Since February 2022, authorities in South Lake Tahoe, California, have been vigilant for remarkably large animals. They reported that a single male bear was responsible for "152 instances of conflict behavior," which encompassed 28 break-ins into homes. This bear was humorously dubbed "Hank the Tank," gaining popularity on the internet.
However, it has been discovered that the initial assessments, primarily reliant on visual information, had combined three bears exhibiting similar behavioral patterns. These assessments had mistakenly assumed that all these bears were male.
DNA testing has confirmed that the bear captured on Friday, officially identified as Bear 64F, is a female responsible for at least 21 instances of breaking and entering. What's even more remarkable is that she was accompanied by three young cubs during her unauthorized ventures, as reported by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
In usual circumstances, the CDFW euthanizes bears involved in conflicts due to the considerable threat they pose to the local community. However, Bear 64F isn't your typical conflict bear.
The higher number of vandalized homes in the upscale waterfront area of Tahoe Keys, located around 100 miles east of Sacramento, resulted in growing public support for "Hank the Tank." The public attributed the bears' behavior to inadequately secured garbage cans and encroachment on their natural habitat.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has cited the "extensive interest" surrounding Bear 64F as the reason for its plan to relocate her to a sanctuary in Colorado once she receives veterinary clearance. Colorado Governor Jared Polis expressed his approval of the decision in a tweet, welcoming "Henrietta the Tank."
The three male cubs that accompanied Bear 64F during various break-ins will also be relocated and rehabilitated. The CDFW aims to eventually reintroduce them to the wild, with a renewed wariness of humans. One of the cubs appeared to have sustained severe injuries from a vehicle collision earlier this month, as reported by the agency.
Considering her dietary preferences, it's not surprising that Bear 64F chose the space beneath a residence in Tahoe Keys as her den. Following her discovery there in March, local biologists capitalized on the opportunity to immobilize her, collect her DNA, affix an ear tag, and attach a satellite tracking collar.
Although the collar came off two months later, the gathered data played a crucial role in distinguishing Bear 64F from the population of around 500 black bears in the Lake Tahoe vicinity.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) states that the typical weight of a female black bear is up to 275 pounds. However, it's not unusual for males to weigh over 500 pounds. While their diet largely consists of plant-based foods such as berries, seeds, and insects, their adaptability to the environment is a key factor that positions them as apex predators.
As per a local resident, it seems that at least one of the "Hanks" had a craving for dessert: The bear devoured a 2-gallon container of ice cream retrieved from her neighbor's garbage bin.
Dr. Staci Baker, a veterinarian associated with the local nonprofit BEAR League, explains that it's an innate behavior for bears to scour the environment in search of food. This underscores the obligation of the human residents to establish a "bear-safe" community, according to her.
"Properly securing garbage is paramount. Bear-proof containers are effective. If every individual refrained from leaving trash accessible, bears would be compelled to seek sustenance elsewhere," she shared with NPR's Weekend Edition in 2022.
Subsequently, the Tahoe Keys community has modified a policy that previously prohibited the use of temporary storage structures, including bear boxes.
%20(1)-Photoroom.png)