Apparently, "bear number 753" — whom the community has named Hope — had broken into a few neighborhood homes in search of easy food. But community members have noticed that many of these homes had open or unlocked doors and windows. There is an easy solution to this, and it's not death for the bear!
Authorities have not accused Hope or Bounce of any violence towards humans. These bears have just been trying to survive in a landscape that is increasingly full of people.
Community members have proposed many alternative solutions to killing this foraging bear. Officials could create public education campaigns that teach residents to actually close and lock all their doors and windows — a basic and common-sense prevention method. They could also require all homeowners to install electrical wiring around their homes or properties, which would deliver a non-lethal shock to curious bears. Finally, they could even relocate "habituated" bears to more remote, less-populated areas.
P.S. The Lake Tahoe community is heartbroken and outraged by California's plan to kill this bear. They're demanding that authorities find non-lethal options instead. Sign the petition.
