Supporters of a rogue 500-pound black bear who has rampaged through a California town have called on the state's Governor Gavin Newsom to help save the animal's life.
The enormous black bear, known as "Hank the Tank," has been earmarked for capture and possible euthanasia by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) after breaking into dozens of homes in South Lake Tahoe Keys recently. On multiple occasions he has smashed through residential fences and windows to gain access to people's houses and take food. The CDFW said Hank poses a potential danger to humans and has become habituated to human food.
Yet support for the animal is growing after footage and news items about his antics went viral last week.
On Monday, Change.org user Julia P from California launched an online petition addressed to Newsom, the California State Assembly and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), with the hope of rallying enough support to protect Hank's life and help relocate him.
"Hank is a hungry bear who has learned through the demolition and industrialization of his home that the easiest way to get food is to break into people's houses and steal it ... stop hank from being murdered in his own home," the petition reads.
Between 30,000 and 40,000 black bears are thought to live in California. Adult males typically weigh between 150-350 pounds, meaning Hank is much larger than the average black bear.
Hank's forays into the town began in July last year. CDFW told KOVR that they had received over 150 calls relating to Hank's activities in the town since then. He has broken into dozens of homes in South Lake Tahoe Keys but has not hurt anyone so far.
Some Tahoe Keys residents, including the active bear conservation group Bear League, have opposed any plans to harm Hank and instead want to see him relocated.
The petition, which has so far garnered over 170 signatures, also supports that course of action. It reads: "He can be relocated to a sanctuary and live his days in peace while still being fed in the easiest fashion."
Last week a metal bear trap was installed outside one residential property in Tahoe Keys by the CDFW. BEAR League said on Facebook it was removed after it failed to catch Hank and was graffitied with the words "Bear Killer."
The CDFW said it would now assess its options but has voiced skepticism of proposals to relocate Hank.
"You relocate a bear like this, you relocate a problem to another community," CDFW spokesperson Peter Tira told SFGATE. "You relocate it to the wilderness, and they starve because they're not used to hunting for food. They die a slow, agonizing death."
A video posted by Bear League showed Hank the Tank attempting to enter a home in his search for food in the town on Thursday.
Bear safety experts have also commented on the case and highlighted the need for residents to take basic precautions to guard against bears foraging for food.
"When wildlife officials make the decision to put down a bear it is certainly not something they want to do," Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety & More, told Newsweek previously. "It is most often the only option left due to poor behavior on the part of people. If the bear was getting into garbage, that is on the local community to clean up their act."
Newsweek has contacted Governor Newsom's office, California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and PETA for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
