California Residents Befriend 500 lb. Black Bear

 

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Hank the Tank, a 500 lb. black bear, has been breaking into South Lake Tahoe homes since last summer, rummaging for food.  (Hank particularly loves pizza and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches). This unusual thief eventually won the hearts of South Lake Tahoe residents, who now invite him for dinner on a rotating schedule.

At first, concern about Hank's break-ins led to several hundred calls to the South Lake Tahoe police station.  Officers were dispatched to the scene of the crime many times, only to find Hank calmly sitting at the kitchen table, nibbling on a sandwich or a cookie.  After flashing their badges at Hank, he generally seemed unimpressed, responding with a polite request for a tasty drink to help him wash down his meal.  "A soda would be great, but I'd also be quite happy with some fruit juice" Hank told the befuddled police officers.  "Just nothing alcoholic please.  My wife doesn't like it when I drink."  

Eventually, the South Lake Tahoe police stopped dispatching officers to these crime scenes, advising residents to simply make Hank a nice sandwich and be done with it.  "And don't forget to serve him a  beverage," they added.  "No booze.  We don't want to get Hank in trouble with his old lady."

And that's exactly what South Lake Tahoe residents did. 

The Johnson family, who now host Hank on Tuesday nights, reported that Hank showed up uninvited the first time. "But he was such great company,  very complimentary about the food...and his stories of growing up in the wilderness were so entertaining."  The Johnson's were charmed, and set a regular weekly dinner date with Hank from that point on.  Other neighbors soon followed suit.  By now, Hank has endeared himself to the South Lake Tahoe community.  "Before he leaves, he always tells us we've outdone ourselves," residents report, "and he gives the best goodbye hugs ever."

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife point to Hank the Tank as an ideal example of how communities can support displaced animals. "We don't think a peanut butter sandwich is too much to ask for, given how human development has encroached on wildlife habitats.... And of course, whenever there is peanut butter involved, there needs to be a tasty beverage to wash it down."

The Rotting Onion contacted Hank the Tank regarding this article.  Due to a busy schedule (family commitments, choir practice, tap dance class, and multiple social engagements), we were not able to arrange an interview at this time.  

Photo courtesy of newsweek.com