Bears breaking into cars at Desolation Wilderness trailhead

Its not just a picnic basket bears have been after at the Bayview Trailhead this week. Some hikers have returned from the trail to find their cars not only broken into, but mauled.

Pictures on the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Twitter page have shown windows torn from their frames and the foam from seats pulled apart.

Bears want food, and if food, not matter how small of trace, is left in a car, they will go after it.

These break-ins are a good reminder to not leave food in cars, no matter if the door is locked or not.

Have kids and the smell of food is always in the car? One way to keep the bears out of your vehicle is this simple trick: Put PineSol into a food storage container with a sanp-on lid and leave on the floor of the car. When not on the car leave the lid off. When driving, snap the lip back on. Bears do not like the cleanser's smell, but the pest practice is to never leave any food in your car.