Black Bear Being Nursed From Fire Injuries Gets Loose In South Tahoe
Here’s CDFW’s Facebook post:
If you’re headed up to the South Shore Lake Tahoe area, please keep your eyes open for a young, possibly bandaged, injured bear that escaped from the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Facility in South Lake Tahoe where it was undergoing treatment for burns suffered in the Tamarack Fire. Here’s the alert issued today from Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc.
COMMUNITY ALERT
Unfortunately, the six-month-old black bear we were treating for burns suffered from the Tamarack Fire has escaped his enclosure and managed to tunnel under an electric fence. We need residents and visitors to the South Shore area to be aware and alert to help us locate him quickly so he can be returned to get the medical care he needs.
He is not in imminent danger and is not a threat, but we need to locate him as soon as possible. We are asking anyone in the South Shore Lake Tahoe Area – in particular, the areas of Black Bart, Heavenly Valley and Sierra Tract – to be on the lookout.
It is important that people keep their distance from him as he is scared of humans and close contact will likely make him hide or run. If you are a resident in one of these areas, please be on the lookout and reach out to neighbors. If you know a resident in one of these areas please reach out and tell them to be on the lookout for a small brown bear cub of about 25 pounds. He might have bandages on his front paws. We have set up a hotline to receive any location tips at (530) 577-2273.
He is likely to be active in the evening and nighttime hours, so please slow down when driving and make sure your dogs are not unaccompanied. He is likely in a tree or hiding in a small space. If you see him please DO NOT approach him but maintain visual contact and contact LTWC immediately at (530) 577-2273.
We are coordinating with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, local law enforcement and all community resources that are available.
Once again, we ask that people not come to the LTWC center and not go out searching for him. Just let us know if you happen to see him, but do not go into the woods or anywhere else trying to spot him. Thank you!
