CBS Sacramento reports. A group representing animal advocates opposes the plans of the agency and calls for the bear to be moved to a sanctuary.
According to a spokesperson from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the bear damaged 38 homes in South Lake Tahoe. An advocate for black bears told South Tahoe Now that the bear had broken down doors inside people’s homes.
Toogee Sielsch stated to the site, “It’s dangerous.” It breaks my heart.”
The wildlife agency set up large containers-sized traps around the area to capture the bear and will then take it down.
South Tahoe Now was told by Jason Holley, a supervising wildlife scientist with the Fish and Wildlife Department that “it is the point where there is no return for the bear.”
The wildlife agency encourages people and businesses to “bearproof” their homes and rental properties. This includes making it difficult for bears access trash and keeping food out-of-sight.
Ann Bryant, executive Director of the Bear Educational Aversion Response or BEAR, League told CBS Sacramento that there is an alternative to killing the bear. She called the bear a “well-known local”.
Bryant stated, “We don’t want anyone to get hurt.” “Nobody wants that. We don’t want to see the bear die.
According to CBS Sacramento, Bryant and wildlife agency are in agreement that the bear could die if it is just relocated as it doesn’t know how hunt. Bryant stated that she would like to see the bear relocated to a sanctuary for wildlife outside of California.
The area has been plagued by bears in the past. Officials warned residents that bears were roaming around South Lake Tahoe’s evacuated neighborhoods looking for food and ransacking homes and trash cans.
