The 500-pound black bear known as Hank the Tank that has been ransacking homes in California has been filmed startling residents bathing in a hot tub.
The footage of a large black bear thought to be Hank the Tank shows it roaming over a snow-covered street while surprised residents watch on from a distance.
"The bear's back," a voice is heard saying in the video. "We were just sitting here in the hot tub. And the bear is just walking around. And I think it's Hank the Tank."
"He's a big boy. Imagine if he stood up and came towards you," another person says.
Hank the Tank went viral after images and footage of his antics in South Lake Tahoe Keys were posted to social media.
The black bear has been visiting the town since July and broken into dozens of homes since.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said Hank had grown so used to human food that he posed a potential risk to people. The CDFW scheduled Hank for euthanasia and installed a bear trap outside a home earlier this month with the aim of capturing him. The trap was removed after it failed to snare the bear and was graffitied with the words "bear killer."
Conservation groups such as BEAR League and their supporters have urged wildlife authorities to relocate the bear instead of killing him.
A Change.org petition calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Assembly to spare Hank's life is also gaining traction, with over 2,600 people having now signed it.
The petition also appealed to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) group to help prevent Hank being killed. "There's no need to take a Wyatt Earp approach when humane solutions for dealing with wildlife conflicts abound," a PETA spokesperson told Newsweek previously.
"PETA will gladly help officials find Hank the Tank a new home at a wonderful sanctuary, which would take his breaking and entering off the table, keep him well fed, and keep local homeowners safe."
There are an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 black bears living in California. Males typically weigh between 210 to 315 pounds, but can grow up to 600 pounds. As opposition to killing Hank the Tank grew, the CDFW said it was unsure whether it would be possible to rehome the bear.
"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."
The last known time Hank broke into a Tahoe Keys home was February 18. He smashed through the small glass window of the house and began searching for food. He left after SLTPD officers arrived and scared him off by making loud noises.
On Wednesday, South Lake Tahoe Keys Police Department (SLTPD) posted a statement to Facebook urging people to stop calling them about the bear because it was hampering their operations.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
