Bear Crashes Party, Just Feet From Beachgoers At Lake Tahoe

TAHOE CITY, CA — A bear crashed a party on Lake Tahoe over the weekend and apparently returned to the area the next day, when the animal was recorded just feet from beachgoers, video shows.

The bear first appeared Saturday night during a party at the Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge, startling guests as it walked the perimeter of the building before returning to the woods, according to video published by KGO.

The outlet also reported the same bear was seen Sunday evening at the lodge, where it was captured on video startlingly close to people at the beach.

On Monday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in a blog post encouraged Lake Tahoe visitors to create an environment that discourages bears from getting too close.

“The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT) is asking everyone to take responsibility for their trash and food,” the blog post said.

“Bears quickly learn to associate humans with food, which leads to increased sightings near homes, trailheads and beaches. This can cause human-bear conflicts with potentially serious consequences. But beyond the immediate safety risks, trash has long-term health consequences for bears.”

People should use the bear-resistant garbage containers when at the lake, according to the department.

To report bear incidents in the Lake Tahoe Basin, call 916-358-2917 in California, 775-688-2327 in Nevada or 911 in an emergency, the department said.

For more information on coexisting with bears, the department advises people visit BearWise.org or TahoeBears.org.