SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Ca. – An enormous black bear that has broken into at least 28 homes and has been eluding authorities around Lake Tahoe for months, has done it again.
Last Friday, the bear, who is affectionately known as “Hank the Tank,” broke a window and squeezed his massive 500-pound body through the small frame.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, he’s caused extensive property damage in 33 documented cases in the last seven months.
“This bear is extremely food-habituated and has used its immense size and strength to break in and through front doors and garage doors. There have been, at last count, 102 individual reports of local police responses to this bear, including multiple hazing events to discourage the bear from breaking into homes and seeking human food sources,” said CDFW officials on Thursday.
Hank is nearly double the average size for his species. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife states that black bears weigh an average of 100-300 pounds, with males weighing more than females.
While Hank might be going global thanks to his size, some locals aren’t so happy about his presence.
John Barrett, who lives across from a home that Hank broke into, told KMOV “we have to be able to protect our children and be able to walk outside of our house.”
According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, Hank’s most recent break-in occurred on Friday when he broke into a secured home through a small window.
CDFW officials said euthanizing a bear is always the last option but that the department is “currently evaluating the possibility of placement of this bear when captured.”
“Placement of adult black bears can have significant negative consequences on their mental health and must be considered when evaluating placement options,” said CDFW officials in a statement on the department’s website. “At the time of this post, CDFW has not identified a placement option for this bear that meets the criteria of the Black Bear Policy.”
BEAR League, a nonprofit organization based in the area, is focused on saving Hank and a Facebook post from the organization said that the nonprofit has identified several sanctuaries that might be able to help Hank.
BEAR League officials said they are taking a step back to let CDFW have a chance to come up with a plan that doesn’t involve killing Hank.
“Thank you, Everyone, for caring so deeply about this friendly big bear. You give us hope for a compassionate future for all wildlife,” said BEAR League director Ann Bryant.
