STATELINE / SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (El Dorado County) — A hungry black bear searching for food during fall hyperphagia entered a home near Kingsbury Grade early Wednesday and scratched an 87-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman before leaving, wildlife officials said. Both were treated at a local hospital and released with minor injuries.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) said the incident occurred about 4:30 a.m. when a homeowner went into his garage and surprised a 250–300-pound bear that had been scavenging. As he backed away the animal scratched his hand, followed him into the house and later scratched the woman before exiting. The couple’s granddaughter reportedly helped open doors to provide escape routes for the bear.
“We are grateful these individuals sustained only minor injuries and are doing OK,”
Shawn Espinosa, game division administrator with NDOW, said in a statement. He reminded residents that bears remain highly motivated to seek calories before denning and urged removal of attractants.
Why it happened: hyperphagia and human attractants
Fall is the season of hyperphagia, a biologically driven period when black bears gorge to build fat reserves for winter. That intense appetite often drives bears farther into neighborhoods and commercial areas in search of easy calories — unsecured trash, pet food, bird seed, unattended grills, and open garages. Wildlife managers say that pattern, combined with habituation to human food sources, is the primary cause of dramatic bear break-ins across the Tahoe Basin.
The Tahoe Basin has one of the region’s densest black-bear populations and has recorded numerous human–bear conflicts in recent years. High-profile cases such as repeated home break-ins and aggressive encounters have prompted concentrated public outreach and, in some cases, management actions against problem bears. Officials warn that when bears become habituated to human food, they may pose a greater risk and can ultimately be captured, relocated or euthanized if they continue to pose threats.
What officials are advising El Dorado County residents
NDOW and local agencies are urging residents on both the California and Nevada sides of the lake to take immediate, concrete steps to reduce attractants:
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Store garbage in bear-resistant containers and only place bins at the curb the morning of collection.
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Remove bird feeders and pet food from outdoor areas, and clean grills after each use.
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Lock car doors and close garage doors when not in use; screen doors alone are not sufficient to keep a determined bear out.
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If a bear is on your property, make loud noises from a safe location to haze it away and report the encounter to NDOW (Nevada) or CDFW (California) so wildlife staff can respond.
NDOW maintains reporting channels for sightings and break-ins; local law enforcement and animal control may also respond to immediate threats. Residents can find detailed guidance and contacts on NDOW’s website and through local news postings.
For El Dorado County residents — particularly those in the foothills and lake communities where homes interface with wildlands — the incident serves as a reminder that small lapses in securing food and waste can lead to dangerous encounters. Community leaders and neighborhood associations across the basin have stepped up outreach this season to distribute bear-safety checklists and to encourage collective compliance with bear-proofing measures.
What to do if you or a loved one is scratched or bitten
Even minor scratches from wildlife can become infected. Medical experts advise immediate wound cleaning and evaluation; clinicians may recommend tetanus booster or antibiotics depending on the injury. Officials also ask that any bear-caused injury be reported to wildlife authorities so the animal’s behavior can be tracked.
