After South Lake Tahoe's Caldor Fire evacuations were downgraded this weekend and thousands were cleared to return to their homes, officials warned of possible unexpected guests: bears.
Bears in the area have become bolder in human habitats, while the humans have been absent in the last week. Some have been venturing out into typically urban or populated areas. With habitat and food sources destroyed by the wildfire, bears might also be seeking refuge elsewhere.
The bears have been strewing garbage around and, in some cases, entering homes uninvited and unimpeded. South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Dave Stevenson said that the department had gotten reports of 17 break-ins this week, and that 15 of them turned out to be perpetrated by bears, according to reporting by KCRA.
Bear expert Toogee Sielsch has warned returning residents to be cautious if they notice any indications that a bear may have entered their home ― because the animal could still be inside.
"When you come home, and if you find that it looks like a window’s open or door’s open and something has accessed into your house, don’t rush in, and definitely don’t block that spot," said Sielsch.
"It might be a wild animal that has made ingress into your house," Sielsch added. "Because that spot’s the only way they’re going to know to get out of your house."
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