When it comes to big problems, we’re learning that in some cases, it’s just easier to offload them to other states. And when it comes to incredibly massive nuisance bears, the state of California is doing just that.
For years now, a bear aptly named “Hank the Tank” has been wreaking havoc and making headlines in South Lake Tahoe. The 500-pound juggernaut is officially known as Bear 64F and is actually a sow – another victim of senseless misgendering.
While there are a number of other large-and-in-charge bears in the Tahoe area that have gotten that way by picking trash, “Hank” is in a league of her own. California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife has linked Hank to 21 home invasions since February of last year along with numerous complaints of property damage.
“For months – and despite hazing and other mitigation efforts, the target bear has caused extensive property damage and forcefully entered several homes – including occupied homes – in and near the Tahoe Keys,” CDFW wrote in a statement following a community meeting on Feb. 16, 2022. “CDFW and local law enforcement have responded to more than 150 calls and requests for help with this particular bear over the past several months. This one individual bear has been linked to property damage at 38 different properties at least.”
Lately, she’s been bringing her kids along for the ride, or passing the torch, so to speak.
In most other cases, (read: if this wasn’t California), nuisance bears like Bear 64F would be euthanized. The unfortunate reality of animals who’ve grown accustomed to human contact is that they are not often agreeable to rehabilitation.
Old habits die hard.
As the idea of killing the bear was originally floated, residents and animal rights groups alike were in a frenzy to save Hank and other fat camp bears known to show up at the family cookout unannounced. The campaign for saving Hank was so strong that it forced wildlife officials to evaluate the idea of deportation, effectively passing the problem on to some other sorry state.
“Relocation is not typically an option for conflict animals over concern that relocating an animal will relocate the conflict behavior to a different community,” CDFW writes. “However, given the widespread interest in this bear, and the significant risk of a serious incident involving the bear, CDFW is employing an alternative solution to safeguard the bear family as well as the people in the South Lake Tahoe community.”
The state of Colorado does not typically take imported bears that were born in the wild, but is making an exception for Hank in this case. Despite that exception showing any resemblance of scientific reasoning, we have to remind ourselves that once a bear is given a clever moniker and a social media following, common sense wildlife management goes right out the window.
Hank will leave behind her cubs who will be brought to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue in Petaluma for an attempted rehabilitation.
