A man successfully used bear spray to fend off an aggressive bear that charged him outside his Lake Tahoe vacation home on the Fourth of July. The incident occurred in Tahoma, a community along the Lake Tahoe shore.
Cortlandt Koerwitz, from Sacramento, stated he went outside to investigate a bear his daughter had spotted rummaging through garbage. As Koerwitz exited his property, he was carrying bear spray. He quickly noticed the charging bear and deployed the spray, which created an orange cloud.
Footage of the encounter shows the bear turning and fleeing after being sprayed. Koerwitz described the experience as terrifying, noting that the bear spray inadvertently hit him in the eyes as well.
"I just kind of caught something out of my left eye, and it was the bear rushing in. We were both startled, and I just shot the spray. And the overspray from that, you know, the shot hit me and hit my eyes," Koerwitz told KCRA.
Koerwitz mentioned that bears are a common sight in the Lake Tahoe region, often accessing vehicles or trash for food. However, he characterized the bear's aggressive behavior during this encounter as unusual. He advises residents and visitors to secure garbage cans, keep food out of vehicles, and remain vigilant.
According to the Tahoe Daily Tribune, California is home to an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 black bears, with Lake Tahoe having the second-highest density of these animals in the state.
Individuals who encounter a bear are advised to contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at (916) 358-2917.