Oct. 14/2026

                           

Black Bear Gets Caught Red-Handed Breaking Into A Home For Snack Time

By Katy Kroll  

Oct. 1/2026 

We all know bears love food. From Winnie the Pooh's endless desire for honey to Yogi Bear stealing picnic baskets, the running jokes about bears' love for snacks abound. There's a reason for that stereotype, as real-life bears are known to forage for food around backyards & campgrounds. But wait till you see this black bear who got caught red-handed on camera breaking into a Lake Tahoe home to grab a few snacks! 

In August 2026, some vacationers came back to a surprise at their California cabin — a hungry black bear had broken in & stolen some snacks. In the surveillance clip, you see the bear on the porch casually ripping out a window screen before pulling itself up & disappearing inside, only to come back out with a pack of brioche buns in its mouth. A report by the Sacramento Bee shared that the unexpected visitor also ate some croissants & steaks out on the porch & then wandered back off into the woods.

"I too like brioche buns," said someone on the ABC News X post. Meanwhile, another person added, "Am I the only one who finds those fluffy creatures cute?🥰 If they weren't so dangerous, I would pet them all day! 😆" Forget the picnic basket — this bear went straight for the kitchen!

Black bears are natural foragers

Black bears are basically opportunistic omnivores, meaning they'll eat whatever is available instead of sticking to one favorite meal. A bear might munch on berries, roll a rotten log for insects, or happily snack on unattended people food left behind at a campsite, making them the ultimate foragers. For the most part, black bears eat a plant-based diet, though they do eat smaller animals & fish. The time of year plays a big role in a black bear's daily food hunt. In spring, they often focus on vegetation & scavenge dead animals after emerging from their dens after a long winter. Meanwhile, summer means plenty of insects, nuts & berries, & other easy-to-find snacks. 

In fall, when bears enter an intense period of eating before winter, they can spend much of their day searching for calorie-rich foods to build up fat reserves for hibernation. Of course, sometimes, a bear's idea of a buffet suspiciously looks like someone's backyard when unsecured garbage, bird feeders, & other household goodies can provide an easy meal, which is why bears occasionally wander into neighborhoods. To a hungry bear, a yard can seem like a convenience store, especially when natural food is harder to find, so keep that in mind & just let them pass through with little fanfare.

Read More: https://www.cuteness.com/2267836/black-bear-breaks-into-home-and-steals-snacks/

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May 1/2024

 

The Bare Facts on Black Bears

By Ontario Nature

09/25/2023

naturecanada.ca

INTRODUCING URSUS AMERICANUS

Black bears captivate & inspire many people across Canada.

Their size is one impressive factor. Adult males average between 90 & 110 kilograms, though can be up to 220 kilograms. Adult females are smaller, weighing on average 60 kilograms, but up to 135 kilograms.

Black bears historically ranged over most of the forested regions of North America, including all Canadian provinces, Alaska, all states in the conterminous United States, & significant portions of northern Mexico.

Black bears can live for 20 years or more but few of them do. Many die at the hands of humans through hunting, vehicle collisions, & the killing of “nuisance” bears. Natural causes of death include rival bears, other wildlife (e.g., wolves) &, among cubs, abandonment or starvation.

FAMILY TIES

Like humans, bears invest considerable time & energy in their young. Female black bears usually have their first litter at about 6 years of age, & they breed only every 2 or 3 years. Female bears have a litter of one to 4 cubs born in late December or early January in their den. Cubs usually stay with their mother for a year & a half. Female cubs may then continue to have access to the mother’s feeding grounds. The young males disperse, however, & wander over long distances for the next few years until reaching sexual maturity, at which point they compete with other males for territory.

THE ULTIMATE OMNIVORE

Black bears search constantly for food to feed their young & build fat for their long winter hibernation. Approximately 75% of the black bear diet consists of twigs, leaves, shoots, buds, berries, roots, grasses & nuts. Insects, fish, carrion & the springborn young of moose & deer make up the remainder. However, bears are opportunistic feeders & will take advantage of any food source. This can bring them into contact with people, crops, campsites, & garbage dumps.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

The black bear has an acute sense of smell & can detect carrion or other food at great distances. Bears will often smell (or hear) humans & retreat before being spotted. Encounters can occur, however, when bears are caught off-guard by people approaching from downwind, or when bears are attracted by human odours such as poorly stored garbage.

BEAR BEHAVIOUR

If you meet a bear at close range, you should be aware of some basic bear behaviour. In most cases the bear will leave, but every situation is unique.

A bear is checking you out when it:

Stands on its hind legs to get a better look

Waves its head from side to side, sniffing the air to catch your scent

Makes low-pitched, non-aggressive grunting sounds

A bear is getting upset when it:

Clacks its teeth

Makes an explosive blowing sound

A bear is telling you to move away when it:

Blows loudly

Makes short lunges, & slaps the ground or an object

Makes “bluff” charges that stop short of you

WHAT TO DO IF YOU MEET A BEAR

In the backcountry:

Leave the area.

Back away slowly: stay calm & don’t run.

Make yourself look large; if you’re in a group, band together & raise your arms.

Try to scare the bear by waving, yelling, banging pots, blowing air horns or making other loud noises.

If a bear follows you, put your pack down to distract it while you retreat.

At a campground, cottage or rural home:

Take shelter in a building or vehicle.

Try to scare the animal with loud noise (campground bears can be more difficult to scare than backcountry bears, however).

Ensure that the bear has a clear escape route: don’t scare it into a neighbouring campsite.

On the remote chance of black bear attack:

Do not play dead. Playing dead may deter grizzly bears, but will not work with black bears.

Do not climb up a tree. Black bears are adept climbers & you will only trap yourself. Fight back. You can improve your chances of escape by launching a strong counter-attack.

Fend off the bear any way you can.

Bear spray is not a substitute for other precautions. Always do what you can to avoid a bear encounter.

Nuisance bears are usually created by humans. Careless humans teach bears that people are easy sources of food. Poorly managed open-pit dumps, for example, are notorious training grounds for problem bears. And at home, garbage bins, dirty barbeque grills, & pet food left outdoors are common bear attractants.

Changing human behaviour is the most effective way to reduce conflict relating to human-bear encounters. Be Bear Wise!

FUTURE OUTLOOK & HOW YOU CAN HELP

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, it is difficult to estimate black bear population size & trends. In 2016, renowned bear researcher Martyn Obbard said that Ontario’s bear population was stable at 85,000 to 105,000 individuals.

You can help by respecting bears & following the tips above to avoid bad bear encounters. If you spot a bear & are concerned, call the Bear Wise hotline at 1-866-514-2327.

ABOUT OUR NATURE NETWORK PARTNER: ONTARIO NATURE

Ontario Nature protects wild species & wild spaces through conservation, education & public engagement. A charitable organization, Ontario Nature represents more than 30,000 members & supporters, & 150 member groups across Ontario.

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