In South Lake Tahoe, California, a bear known as Hope, or Sow #753, has become a viral star. Wildlife officials and local activists are watching her every move with rapt attention. So now the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has targeted her for “lethal removal.” Her worsening, dangerous behavior such as breaking into people’s houses has led to pretty grave concerns. Since mid-July, she has been linked to over a dozen residential burglaries in the surrounding region. In just the week preceding last week’s report, six of those incidents occurred. Activists, including Ann Bryant, the executive director of the Bear League, have organized a round-the-clock bodyguard operation to protect Hope and her cub from the impending threat of euthanasia.
Hope has earned infamy for breaking into homes through open doors and windows. On August 17, she displayed that dog-paddling spirit. She was found breaking into an ice cream shop! Just a few days later, on August 21, she and her young cub had walked into a residence on Butler Avenue. While foraging in their new home for food, they inadvertently ignited a gas stove burner. The polar bear’s history of repeated visits to human homes has created a strong public safety concern.
Since 2022, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has tracked Hope pretty closely. They’ve recently re-classified her a nuisance bear due to her recidivism. This questioning comes in the wake of a troubling trend. Since May 1, the state has logged 170 reports of bear property damage, marking a total of 607 reported incidents just in 2023. Among these reports was a particularly tragic case in which a victim was killed by a bear.
The Debate over Hope’s Future
Wildlife advocates have long argued for non-lethal alternatives to lethal removal. They advise trapping Hope and transferring her to an out-of-state sanctuary. In return, they hope both to continue rehabilitating her cub—an impressive achievement in itself—and to eventually return her cub back to the wild. Bryant points out that Hope is not a threat to people.
“She has never even bluff charged anybody. She’s absolutely 10 times better than some of the other mama bears down in that area,” – Ann Bryant.
According to officials such as Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira, this overlooks the danger of Hope’s behavior. He did share concern over the close call that happened her previous break-in.
“This bear and its cub came very close to igniting a fire and burning down a house, and potentially creating a forest fire,” – Peter Tira.
While activists argue for Hope’s life, some residents voice their frustrations at what they perceive as unreasonable behavior from wildlife officials. One commenter on social media went so far as to ask why steps weren’t being taken to save the bear and suggested severe measures instead.
“How would they like it if an ex-USMC sniper came to protect those bears?” – a man commenting on the Bear League’s Facebook page.
Growing Tensions in South Lake Tahoe
The environment around Hope has gotten more and more tense within the Lake Tahoe community. As a result, her community’s residents now find themselves constantly balancing the needs of wildlife with the needs of public safety. The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s focus on lethal measures has heightened emotions, with some calling for more humane solutions.
Bryant urges compassion and understanding toward Hope and her cub, arguing they should have a fair shot at staying alive.
“We don’t want her to be murdered,” – Ann Bryant.
Activists are now raising the alarm to ensure that Hope is protected. Some of them are even camping outside on shifts to better track her movements at night. This commitment is proof of their resolve to prevent what they hope will never have to become an avoidable calamity.
“We have some people who are sleeping out in the wilderness at night,” – Bryant noted about the efforts made by activists.
Even given the passionate outcry for action in this specific case, many experts warn that bear relocation is not the widespread solution it might seem like.
“Shipping California wildlife all over the place is not necessarily a long-term solution,” – an unnamed individual commented.
The Bigger Picture
Hope’s saga highlights bigger issues related to bears and humans in California. Climate change is changing the face of wildlife around the world. At the same time, as humans encroach on these areas, bears are increasingly having to look for food in our neighborhoods. Just in 2024 so far, there have been 521 reports of property damage caused by bears.
For wildlife officials, the dilemma is complex. Yet for all their commitment to wildlife protection, they still need to keep the public safe. Hope’s case has gotten a lot of national attention. This amazing spotlight has the potential to trigger a much needed discussion about how to sustainably manage wildlife in our increasingly urbanized world.