Three more black bear cubs calling Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care their temporary home

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three more bear cubs have arrived at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) in South Lake Tahoe. Thelma, Louise, and Bodie arrived and have joined Ponderosa who came last week.

Thelma and Louise's mother was hit and killed by a vehicle between South Tahoe Middle School and the South Lake Tahoe Fire Station on October 3, 2021. Thelma and Louise, her cubs, were up in a tree when emergency crews arrived, and they came down hours later and moved over to a tree by the tennis courts at the school. Volunteers were able to get the cubs and California Fish & Wildlife then took the two to Gold Country Animal Welfare Rescue.

The two females are both 10-11 months old and about 75 pounds each (they don't get them on the scales unless sedated so it is an estimate).

Bodie was found on a military base in Mono County, foraging in trash dumpsters which is never a good habit for a bear. He has been well fed due to his also being about 70 pounds, but how he became separated from his mother is unknown though it is suspected she was a bear hit by a car on US395. Since bear cubs are born in January and February, he is the same age as Thelma, Louise, and Ponderosa.

"Nothing makes us happier than a good appetite bear," said LTWC spokesman Greg Erfani.

Ponderosa is still on the small side and will be kept separate from the other three until he can put on some weight.

Staff at LTWC will watch the three new bears and see if they demonstrate wanting to hibernate. Ponderosa will be fed through the winter to get up in weight.

They feed the cubs vegetables, fruits, seeds, and fish, trying their best to mimic what the bears would find in nature. The cost is about $50 per day and the public can help defray costs with donations. Visit https://ltwc.org/ to see how you can help.