Mother Bear Euthanized After Attacking CA Campers

LAKE TAHOE, CA — A female black bear in Northern California was euthanized by a CA State Parks ranger this week after attacking and harassing people at a campground. The incidents occurred in late June in Emerald Bay State Park, approximately 12 miles north of South Lake Tahoe.

The bear was identified as a “Public Safety Bear,” which the California Department of Fish and Wildlife defines as “demonstrating aggressive action that has resulted in physical contact with a human; or a bear exhibiting an immediate threat to public health and safety, given the totality of the circumstances.” She was “targeted for immediate removal” as a result of the campground occurrences, according to the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"At 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, the light-colored female bear, or sow, entered an occupied trailer belonging to a camper at Eagle Point Campground within Emerald Bay State Park. After being awoken by the bear trying to gain entry, the camper attempted to scare the bear off by banging pots and pans, screaming at the bear and making a loud commotion," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced in a written statement. "Undeterred, the bear forced its way into the trailer and swiped at the camper, leaving her with cuts and bruises on her arms and hand and requiring an escorted trip to the hospital. Later that same morning, the bear ripped the door open on a camper-van with teenagers sleeping inside and later was reported harassing other campers within the same campground."

The bear had a history of confrontations with people and, as DNA tests proved, was behind other incidents, including home and vehicle break-ins, that happened prior to the recent attacks.

According to state officials, the bear had generated multiple 911 emergency calls and "unrelenting conflict activity" since early spring.

On June 10, the bear entered an occupied vehicle at the campground with a child fastened to a child seat inside, according to wildlife officials. Multiple agencies tried unsuccessfully to haze the bear in an effort to encourage her to fear humans.

“As wildlife professionals who devote our careers to the health and well-being of California’s fish and wildlife species, euthanasia is a measure of last resort,” said Morgan Kilgour, regional manager for CDFW’s North Central Region. “Our foremost responsibility, however, remains the protection of human life and the safety of the Tahoe region.”

The bear’s two cubs have been taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility, with the aim for their eventual return to the wild.

“Bear cubs learn everything from their mothers – good and bad behavior alike,” Kilgour explained. “A mother bear that constantly searches human-occupied areas for unnatural food sources, breaks into homes and vehicles, teaches this behavior to her cubs and perpetuates another generation of human-bear conflict. Removing these cubs from this conflict activity early in their lives gives them a chance that they can return to the wild and live as wild bears should.”