HANK THE TANK
The Lake Tahoe area will likely see more bear activity this spring and summer. Last year’s fire and evacuations allowed bears to roam unabated in neighborhoods and break into homes in search of food.
These bears have now learned the “easy pickings” of human houses, and once they learn a bad behavior, it is difficult to get them to change.
Take Hank the Tank, a 500-pound black bear, for example. He did not hibernate last winter because the Tahoe Keys neighborhood provided such fertile feeding grounds. Hank has learned what day is garbage pick up day, how to breach garages, and how to break through doors and windows.
Hank is responsible for dozens of home break-ins, and he shows no remorse or fear of humans. Not a good combination.