Bear walks through the ruins of the Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe

Firefighter Leslie Pratt of Wyoming was working on the Caldor Fire near Trimmer Peak in the Lake Tahoe Basin on September 11 when she spotted a young bear walking through the burned forest. It did not appear to be harmed and walked normally, Pratt said.

Toogee Sielsch, a Lake Tahoe bear advocate, said by looking at the photo the bear appears to be a wildland yearling. While the bear's coat looks ashy and possibly burned in the photo, Sielsch said the appearance is common in yearlings if they don't get the right calories.

As soon as fire burned through the forest, wildlife quickly returned, and even during the fire Sielsch spotted deer casually eating grass just 100 yards away from the flames.

Some wildlife may be injured or burned as a result of the Caldor and other fires. However, wildlife is very resilient and many animals can recover and heal quickly on their own, said the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

The agency said the public should report clear cases of distress for triage, such as an animal that is unable to walk or move on its own, appears emaciated, or orphaned. They said some animals may be transferred for treatment and rehabilitation by licensed professionals.

"Do not approach or provide food or water to burned and injured animals. Your proximity may be adding stress. If you care, leave them there," said CDFW.