Alarmed South Lake Tahoe: Bear Euthanized After Attacking Camper – LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Eagle Point Campground (96150) – Emerald Bay State Park –  A peaceful night at Emerald Bay State Park in South Lake Tahoe turned alarming on June 22, when a mother black bear forced its way into a camper’s trailer at the Eagle Point Campground just after 4:30 a.m. The startled camper banged pots and screamed, but the bear persisted—swiping at the woman and leaving her with cuts and bruises that required hospitalization. It wasn’t the first incident: earlier the same morning, the bear ripped open a sliding door of a camper van housing teenagers and harassed several visitors throughout the campground.

DNA evidence later confirmed this bear had repeatedly broken into vehicles and homes along Cascade Road since early June. Declared a public safety threat under California’s 2022 Black Bear Policy, the sow was euthanized on June 23 by a State Parks ranger. Her two 5‑month‑old cubs were captured and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center, where experts hope to reintroduce them to the wild. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife emphasized that euthanasia was a last resort aimed at protecting public safety, even as a tough decision. The heartbreaking decision underscores the ongoing tension between wildlife and humans in heavily trafficked areas like Tahoe.

Campers described the early morning incident as shocking. “I heard the banging and screaming—it was terrifying,” said camper Jordan Mills. Meanwhile, park staff have ramped up food storage checks, and several hike trails remain on alert due to increased bear activity. The visitor center has issued new safety advisories outlining how to store food properly, and rangers are conducting daily patrols. Local businesses, including an RV rental near Cascade Road, are distributing bear-safe containers and warning postcards to visitors.

In recent months, wildlife officials flagged this bear for repeated human conflicts. She had triggered at least seven hazing operations by multiple agencies, including CDFW and the U.S. Forest Service, but never backed off. Officials also tied her to numerous break-ins via DNA evidence. Under the Black Bear Policy, any bear deemed an “imminent threat to public safety” can be swiftly euthanized. “Euthanasia is always a last resort,” said Morgan Kilgour, CDFW’s North Central regional manager. Two cubs were rescued and transported to a Northern California rehab center.

“They learned dangerous behavior from their mother, but removing them early gives them a chance at a wild life,” Kilgour added.

Officials are reminding campers and locals that wildlife encounters are always unpredictable. They urge the public to store food securely, carry bear spray, and report sightings to authorities immediately. For updates on wildlife safety in Tahoe or alerts about rebounding bear activity, keep checking local park advisories and ranger reports.

Update Log

• 6/22 4:30 a.m.: Bear breaks into trailer, injures camper

• 6/22 morning: Bear attacks camper van housing teens

• 6/23: Bear euthanized; cubs taken to rehab

• 6/24: CDFW issues full incident report on “Bear Naked Truth” blog