A typical black bear is an animal not to be messed with. These creatures are extremely strong and territorial. Fortunately, most of them tend to avoid human habitats and only interact with us when necessary. However, in California, there is a bear that seems to have thrown caution to the wind and is causing quite a stir. This bear has a singular motivation – food.
A massive bear, estimated to weigh approximately 500 pounds, has been causing chaos in the neighborhoods of South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento for several months. This bear, known locally as “Hank the Tank,” has been breaking into homes in search of food. Authorities from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are currently on the lookout for Hank, aiming to capture him. Due to his enormous size, typical non-lethal methods like paintballs and tasers have proven ineffective against him, and he remains undeterred by lights and sirens.
Peter Tira, a spokesperson for Fish and Wildlife, emphasized the challenge of dealing with Hank: “These are residential areas with a lot of human activity and traffic. It’s crucial that we handle this situation in a manner that ensures the safety of both the public and the bear. Hank is habituated to seeking food from humans and homes, showing no fear of people.”
A 500-pound black bear named Hank the Tank has raided over two dozen homes in California since July, officials report. Despite efforts using paintballs, bean bags, sirens, and tasers, the bear continues to seek out leftover food like pizza. https://t.co/um5y7p2B1L pic.twitter.com/ZlmmzqUVtB
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 21, 2022
Hank has triggered more than 150 police calls, with his recent antics involving breaking into a house through a window. Law enforcement had to make a lot of noise outside the house to eventually get him to leave through the back door.
The Fish and Wildlife department is contemplating issuing a kill order due to public safety concerns. However, the local Bear League opposes this idea, arguing that killing Hank would be cruel and unnecessary. They instead propose relocating him to a sanctuary. A meeting between the two organizations is scheduled to discuss this matter later this week.