Giant black bear terrifies California residents
Giant black bear terrifies California residents
Residents of the town of South Lake Tahoe in California have a new neighbor, and a very unwanted one at that – a giant black bear, nicknamed Hank, or, as some call him, Tank Hank. In six months, local police have already received about 30 calls from frightened residents whose homes have been broken into by this 200-pound giant.
Hank’s rampage began in July last year, a time when bears begin their gluttony cycle as they store up calories before hibernating. However, Hank never went into hibernation with the onset of winter, the local wildlife department complained. This happens when bears have access to food year-round.
Hank is just as addicted to human food – and he doesn’t seem to be giving it up. “It’s easier to find under-eaten pizza than to hunt in the woods,” Peter Tyra of the California Department of Wildlife explains his behavior. It was on leftovers that Hank got so fat.
So far, the bear has not been caught – he simply bypasses all traps, and authorities are even considering putting him to sleep. But locals, whose homes are threatened by bears, oppose such measures.
Residents say Hank is only interested in food and pays no attention to people.
“He just sits and eats. He doesn’t attack anyone, he doesn’t growl, he doesn’t make faces,” says Ann Bryant, director of the local bear conservation organization.
Authorities confirm that while the bear has caused a lot of damage to private property, no people have been hurt.
Both residents and authorities would like to put Hank in a sanctuary, but no one is taking him yet – there is no room. So Hank is simply driven away with paintball guns and sirens. But he comes back anyway.