Giant Bear ‘Hank The Tank’ Keeps Breaking Into People’s Homes And Eating Their Food
Locals are now fighting authorities to stop the bear being trapped and killed.
A 220-kilogram black bear, known as 'Hank The Tank', is wreaking havoc in Lake Tahoe in California.
Residents have called the police on the bear more than 100 times since July as it continues to break into homes to rummage for food.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said Hank had lost its fear of people and is now associating people with access to food.
Multiple attempts at hazing - including paintballs, bean bags, sirens and Tasers - have been unsuccessful.
"For more than seven months, and despite intense hazing and other mitigation efforts, this bear has caused extensive property damage in 33 documented cases and forcefully entered at least 28 hones in and near the Tahoe Keys," the CDFW said.
"This bear is extremely food-habituated and has used its immense size and strength to break in and through front doors and garage doors.
"There have been, at last count, 102 individual reports of local police responses to this bear, including multiple hazing events to discourage the bear from breaking into homes and seeking human food sources."
Authorities are now attempting to capture the bear, but have not resolved what to do with it once it's captured.
The CDFW noted placing it in captivity would have negative consequences for the animal's mental health.
"Adult bears may be poor candidates for placement due to the chronic stress of adjusting to captivity after living in only wild conditions," the CDFW's Black Bear Policy states.
It said 'euthanizing an animal is always our last option'.
Local news outlet News 4, however, reported the CDFW was intending to end the bear's life.
A group in California, called the Bear League, is fighting to save the bear's life.
Vivienne Kelly