500-Pound Black Bear Named 'Hank The Tank' Ransacks 28 California Homes; ‘Euthanasia’ Considered

Since the summer season, Hank the Tank, a black bear has reported to have made a 500-pound "nuisance of himself" in California's South Lake Tahoe, breaking into over two dozen homes in search of food and causing a trail of damage in the place.

The New York Times reported that "paintballs, bean bags, sirens, and Tasers" are unable to keep the extraordinarily huge bear from looking for leftover pizza, as well as other food. According to officials, the bear has broken into at least 28 residences since July.

So far, no one has been able to prevent Hank, explained spokesman Peter Tira, for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In addition, department officials and the local authorities have attempted to haze the bear using the aforementioned objects but the bear is too drawn to humans and their food to stay away for a long time. Tira added, "it is easier to find leftover pizza than to go in the forest."

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(Photo : John Moore/Getty Images)
Hank the Tank became one of the least-wanted residents of the neighborhood in July, which is around the time that bears are entering a period known as ‘hyperphagia’ when they build up calories prior to their hibernation for winter.

500-Pound Bear

Residents have reported to the police about the giant bear more than a hundred times already since July as he keeps on rampaging through Tahoe Keys, a gated community roughly 190 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Now, the authorities have been trying to trap Hank and plausibly have him euthanized. Tira explained this is a bear that has lost the fear of humans. He added, it is a possibly hazardous situation.

Hank, which is called as such by local residents, has used his strength and size to barge through windows, doors, and garages.

Weighing 500 pounds, the black bear is extraordinarily large, described the state wildlife authorities. Essentially, the average black bear in the western United States is 100 to 300 pounds heavy, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Hank's Diet

The diet of Hank of human food and garbage though has expanded his size, according to Ann Bryant, the executive director of the Bear League, a Homewood, California-based wildlife rescue service.

The executive director elaborated, the bear did not get fat like that dating grubs and berries, adding that it was unclear how the black bear developed a taste for human food.

Hank became one of the least-wanted residents of the neighborhood in July, which is around the time that bears are entering a period known as "hyperphagia" when they build up calories prior to their hibernation for winter, the National Park Service said.

However, Tira said, the fondness of Hank for breaking into homes did not slow the winter, leading the state wildlife authorities to believe that he had never gone into hibernation. Sometimes, he added, bears are not hibernating if they have all-year access to food.

Hank did not roam into a trap set for him this month and thus, authorities are coming up with a new strategy, euthanasia which, according to Tira, is the last option.

If officials are moving the bear to another site, that could merely transfer the problem, he explained and added, all the sanctuaries are way too full to accommodate Hank.

Report about Hank the Tank is shown on CBS Los Angeles's YouTube video below:

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