In Lake Tahoe, 'the Bears Are Winning'

Bear-proofing is starting to look like an arms race in Lake Tahoe, where black bears are increasingly treating homes like open pantries. Residents in South Lake Tahoe describe a surge of bold intrusions, from a known house-raiding bear dubbed "Judy" wandering into a couple's living room and urinating on the floor, to another animal lunging at visitors lakeside minutes after an 11-year-old who was fishing reeled something in, per the Wall Street Journal. Local police have handled 174 bear-related calls so far this year, up from 97 at this point last year, as California's black bear population—now estimated at 60,000—continues its rebound. The response to the issue, however, is anything but unified.

State wildlife officials, who say they euthanize only in severe cases and that relocating bears rarely works, clash with the vocal BEAR League, which refuses to share bear-location data and accuses the state of being too quick to kill. A splinter group, Team BEAR, takes the opposite approach and coordinates closely with authorities, installing 10,000-volt "bear mats" on decks and in doorways. Meanwhile, homeowners are spending thousands on electric fencing and wiring, sometimes still unsure it's enough. As one 91-year-old cabin owner who's had her own bear encounter puts it: "The bears are winning." The state's Department of Fish and Wildlife offers tips on keeping bears in the area at bay, including never feeding the animals and keeping grills and smokers clean and properly stored.