Elusive bear not caught in Tahoe Keys, public trying to stop him from being killed

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) placed traps at two homes in the Tahoe Keys last week, trying to get a large, 500-pound bear.

So far, the big guy has been elusive and has not come close to the traps.

As reported on Feb. 9, CDFW says the fully urbanized black bear who has been calling South Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Keys his home turf for years is going to be trapped, removed, and killed due to his behavior.

They placed traps in front of two homes in the Tahoe Keys to catch the bear who people think is about 10-years-old. CDFW officials said the bear will be taken lethally under their habituated bear policy. The easy source of trash and food has kept this bear fed for his life without the need to seek food in the forest, and that situation has kept him active all winter and not entering torpor (Bears entering torpor in a simulated den with no light expressed normal but low functioning rhythms).

The community has responded and has been fighting to keep the bear alive with some taking shifts on the street in front of homes with the traps to keep the bear away. They've been passionate about not wanting to see the bear killed.

CDFW sent game wardens to the area of one trap to make sure people didn't try and interfere with their operations. Before they arrived, someone had painted "Bear Killer" on one trap and that message was painted over.

So far he hasn't been caught and the traps have been removed.

CDFW said on February 15 they moved the traps and will continue to move them until the bear is caught. They said they are trying to find the best location for capture.

Brooke Laine, former South Lake Tahoe mayor and candidate for El Dorado County supervisor, has been one of those trying to stop the placement of the bear traps. She has now involved Governor Newsom and talked to his office twice to alert him of the bear in hopes it won't be killed. A case has been opened with Newsom's office.

Laine said the bear can be trapped and moved to a sanctuary.

The former mayor has been out a few times at the house in the Tahoe Keys where the bear trap was located, along with other bear advocates. That neighborhood has been a hotbed of bear activity and Laine and others are calling for mandatory bear boxes at homes so the trash can be contained in a place the bear cannot break into. Otherwise, trash is kept in garages and this bear is aware of how to get into the garage.

Another issue is the placement of freezers and refrigerators in garages. The smart urbanized bear knows where food is, and how to get it.

"They know there is food in homes, and that's our fault," said Laine.

She said Lucerne Way saw several bear break-ins and the residents got together and "bear-hardened" their homes.

Since then they haven't had any bear issues.

To bear-harden your home, take away enticing smells: Remove bird feeders from early spring to late fall at a minimum; don't leave animal food outside, and if you feed the dog outside, bring in the bowls at night; don't put garbage out on the street on collection day until right before the refuse company comes; store garbage in a bear-resistant trash container or inside a storage area and regularly rinse out trash containers with bleach; store BBQ grills when not in use and thoroughly clean grills and remove all grease when done cooking, including spills on the ground; add electric pads at door and windows, and electric wires on the garage. For more on making homes unwelcoming to bears, visit the CDFW website dedicated to bears, https://wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Bear, or the BEAR League website at http://www.savebears.org/.

"This bear doesn't have to die," said local veterinarian Dr. Stacy Baker who also sits on the BEAR League board. "This bear lives here, he doesn't want to be a problem. People have more chance of being bit by a dog than hurt by a bear."

Dr. Baker also said adding screen doors to a home is also a deterrent. Bears like anything that is wood since she said the termites and insects in wood are a food source for the bears. Using metal doors instead of wood is also a good home hardening tip where bears are concerned. Bears also don't like balloons and plastic bags waving around, Dr. Baker added.

Campsites also need to be bear-proofed, something campers often overlook. For more information on campsites, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Bear.