Crime & Safety
'Hank The Tank': Giant Bear Damages 30 CA Properties | Report
A 500-pound black bear has wreaked havoc on dozens of properties and has been on the run from animal authorities for seven months.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA — A giant black bear, known as "Hank the Tank," has damaged more than 30 properties and has eluded capture for more than seven months, according to multiple reports.
Hank, weighing at least 500 pounds, broke into another home last week on in search of a quick bite.
So far, about 150 incident reports have been made around the Northern California and Nevada border about the huge animal.
Find out what's happening in San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"What’s problematic about this bear is how large it is," Peter Tira, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told SF Gate on Sunday. "It’s learned to use that size and strength to break into a number of occupied residences, bursting through the garage door or front door. It’s pretty frightening."
Tira said the bear is a severely food habituated bear" that has "lost all fear of people" and thinks of them as a food source.
Find out what's happening in San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Read more from SF Gate: 500-pound Lake Tahoe bear 'Hank the Tank' breaks into 33 homes as it continues to evade capture
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.