Lake Tahoe Man Repels Charging Black Bear With Spray After July 4 Garage Encounter
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 9
Lake Tahoe Man Repels Charging Black Bear With Spray After July 4 Garage Encounter
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 9
Summary
Video from a Lake Tahoe vacation home shows Cortlandt Koerwitz firing bear spray after a black bear suddenly charged him outside the garage; the bear turned and ran off.
The confrontation began when Koerwitz's daughter spotted the bear rummaging through a garbage can in the garage, and he said both he and the animal appeared startled as he went to investigate.
Koerwitz said bears regularly roam the Tahoe area looking for food, but called this aggressive behavior unusual; he was hit in the eyes by overspray from his own deterrent.
California wildlife officials say black bears are common across the Tahoe Basin and urge residents and visitors to secure trash, keep food out of vehicles and remove other attractants.