Lake Tahoe Bears Trigger 174 Calls, Forcing Homeowners to Spend Thousands

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 26

174 bear-related calls have hit South Lake Tahoe so far in 2026, up from 97 a year earlier, as black bears increasingly enter homes and garages.
Several break-ins have turned routine moments into close encounters: one couple found a bear in their living room, and resident Margaret Deanesly Ziegler spent about $7,500 on electric deterrents and a steel door.
California wildlife officials say black bears are highly food-motivated and grow bolder after accessing human food, recommending bear-proof containers, electric fencing and electric mats to cut off attractants.
The surge has fueled a local debate over whether careless human behavior or unavoidable coexistence is driving the problem, with some residents saying secured trash prevents conflicts while others report break-ins despite precautions.