After bear thought to be Tamarack seen healthy, and up a tree, rescue called off

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Authorities responded today to a reported sighting of Tamarack, the burned bear who escaped from Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care almost two weeks ago.

Staff from both California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care went to the sight to observe a cub up a tree. The cub had the dark marking on its head, just as Tamarack, and was roughly the same size (25-28 pounds). The bear they observed had no bandages. Tamarack had his front two paws bandaged when he escaped from the wildlife facility in South Lake Tahoe.

They watched the bear from a distance while it climbed 30 feet higher into the tree in which they first spotted it. It was behaving as a wild and healthy bear should. The decision was made not to disturb this bear and leave it in the wild.

If it was Tamarack, he's fended himself since breaking out overnight on August 1. Staff said climbing a tree would be his biggest defense and he obviously knew how to do that well, along with looking healthy and fed.

"While we cannot be certain this was the escaped bear, staff feels strongly that it was him and are no longer asking the community to be on the lookout for the bear," said LTWC in a press release.

Residents and visitors to the South Lake Tahoe area should always be aware of bear activity in their neighborhood. Please report any abnormal bear behavior to CDFW’s Wildlife Incident Reporting system at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/WIR/Default.aspx or (916) 358-2900.