Home News Hank the Tank- A 500 Pound Black Bear in Lake Tahoe

Hank the Tank- A 500 Pound Black Bear in Lake Tahoe

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Hank the Tank is a 500 pound black bear that lives in Lake Tahoe, California. It is not a criminal. It has been mischaracterized as such.

Unlike the criminals, Hank has been a victim of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result of his diet of human waste, he has expanded in size.

Hank the Tank isn’t the criminal he’s been made out to be

As you may or may not have heard, a black bear nicknamed Hank the Tank has been breaking into homes in South Lake Tahoe. This has captivated the attention of the world.

However, this large and furry animal isn’t the criminal he’s been made out to be.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) released DNA evidence Thursday that showed two bears were responsible for many of the break-ins in the Tahoe Keys.

They were also unable to identify the bear that broke into a home on Catalina Drive, a luxury waterfront community.

The DNA evidence showed that the two bears were not the only ones responsible for property damage. Another female bear was involved.

As a result, the department plans to trap and release the bears in a suitable habitat. In order to protect the bears, authorities plan to keep a close eye on them.

While officials say they will not kill the bears, it is important to note that the animals have already been hazed several times.

These hazing techniques are designed to discourage bears from entering heavily human populated areas.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is still investigating the bears’ behavior. The agency has gathered DNA evidence, and plans to release the animals in a more suitable habitat.

Hank’s diet of human garbage has expanded his size

A 500 pound bear may have taken a tumble in Tahoe but that’s not to say that it won’t find its way back home.

That is, if it can’t find a female in a zoo or two. It’s been spotted in and around the Tahoe Keys over the past seven months but has yet to be tagged with a bounty.

As a result, officials are weighing the possibility of sending the bear to a sanctuary in lieu of the zoo.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife has already deployed two teams of trained animal control officers to the key areas surrounding the Lake Tahoe basin.

While there have been no reports of bears roosting in residences, the department has seen its share of sightings in the past.

In fact, the aforementioned bear was found to be a recurring visitor at a number of residences, including one with no resident on board. Some of these encounters prompted the department to put out a press release to the media.

To a degree, the incident has been a positive experience for everyone involved, with the exception of the bear.

One homeowner who has been in contact with wildlife officials has reported a series of interactions spanning over several days.