Early in the morning of June 25, 2025, a woman camping at Lake Tahoe’s Eagle Point Campground had a terrifying wake-up call.
A black bear entered the unidentified woman’s trailer around 4:30 a.m. The bear was undeterred by the lady’s screams. Even banging on her pots and pans did not frighten away the bear!
The bear swiped at the woman, leaving cuts and bruises before finally retreating. Tragically, this was just the final incident in a string of escalating encounters. The bear was euthanized.
As RVers and campers head into the wilderness this summer, this incident is a stark reminder: When bears become too comfortable around people, everyone loses.
A bear too bold
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), this female bear had been causing problems for months in the South Lake Tahoe area. Since early spring, the overly bold bear triggered numerous 911 calls. She attempted several break-ins into both homes and vehicles.
Notable incidents included:
• June 10: At the Eagle Point Campground, the bear broke into a car. A child was strapped in the car seat inside the vehicle.
• Multiple break-in attempts: The bear was linked through DNA to property damage and intrusion attempts near Cascade Road and other parts of South Lake Tahoe.
• Same morning as this week’s attack: After swiping at the woman in her trailer, the bear later broke into another camper van where teenagers were sleeping. She also harassed others in the campground.
• CDFW had been trying to trap the bear since June 17. Despite repeated attempts by CDFW, State Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service, the bear continued to return to human-occupied areas.
Eventually, a State Parks ranger encountered the bear again on Monday. Armed with DNA evidence confirming this bear was responsible for the most recent attack, the bear was humanely euthanized.
The bear’s cubs: a second chance
The bear’s two five-month-old cubs were subsequently rescued and taken to a rehabilitation facility in Northern California. Wildlife officials hope the young bears can unlearn their mother’s bad habits (like seeking human food). It’s hoped the cubs can eventually be returned to the wild.
“Bear cubs learn everything from their mother, both good and bad,” said Morgan Kilgour, a regional manager with CDFW. “Removing these cubs early gives them a chance to live as wild bears should.”
Why attacks happen
This attack happened because the bear had learned over time that humans mean food. Unsecured garbage, food left in vehicles, and careless campsite habits make it easy for bears to associate humans with meals. Once a bear loses its fear of people, it becomes a safety threat.
CDFW stressed that euthanasia is a last resort. It is only pursued after at least seven hazing attempts had failed.
How RVers can stay safe
To avoid dangerous encounters and protect wildlife, here are practical tips for RVers and campers:
• Always lock it up. Even if you’re just stepping away for a few minutes, lock your RV, trailer, and vehicle doors. When inside your RV, keep door(s) locked if you’re camping in bear habitat. Bears are smart, persistent, and capable of opening doors.
• Secure all food and trash. Use bear-proof containers whenever available. Don’t leave any food, coolers, or scented items (including toothpaste, sunscreen, or lotion) in tents or unlocked vehicles.
• Dispose of garbage daily. Never leave it out overnight.
• Clean up campsites thoroughly. Scrub grills, pick up food scraps, and store cooking gear. Even a forgotten wrapper or sticky pan can attract a bear from a mile away.
• Make some noise. While hiking or moving through the campground at night, be vocal and travel in groups to avoid surprising a bear.
• Report bear sightings. If you see a bear near your site or behaving aggressively, report it to local rangers or call 911 in emergencies. Early reports help wildlife officials manage bear behavior before it escalates.
• Consider carrying bear spray inside your RV and know how to use it. An air horn can also help to scare off a bear.
Have you ever been surprised by a bear while RVing? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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RVT1215b
We’ve come close to black bears while camping and hiking on trails in NC, VA, and NJ (Appalachian Trail mostly), in the Jedidiah Wilderness on the back side of the Tetons, and in Alaska (metro Anchorage, JBER, Denali NP, other areas). We’ve also been in proximity to grizzlies in Alaska, mostly hiking and cycling in Denali NP. Have kept our distance and never been accosted by one. A black bear was in the bed of our truck at JBER in Anchorage but did no damage.
Had a Bear enter into our MH in Tahoe NF. It was just after midnight, our door was unlocked. I was awakened by my wife saying something in our RV. I stood up and the bear was standing as well at my height or taller, I’m 6’. I raised my hands and shouted. It went right out the door and sat facing our door. I went to the door and launched towards it, thinking I would scare it away, but the bear launched back at me. I just was trying to close the door. So I could see something out of my peripheral vision on our counter, I grabbed it not taking my eyes off the bear. I did a throwing motion and the bear got up, turned and ran. My wife did not sleep a wink that night, I slept just fine.
Oh my! What an experience, Jim. I’m so thankful no one was hurt!
Thank you, Gail! Very sad for the bear and her cubs. No, we have never come upon a bear or had one come upon us. We have bear spray and an air horn, which we carry with us. Have a great day and safe travels!
We were camping in Alaska for 4 months, mostly boondocking, so water conservation was very important. One morning, while we were both using the “toilet with a fantastic view” my husband whispered to me “get yourself in the camper. NOW!” A few seconds later, the triplet adolescents we had been viewing the previous day at a nearby river burst out of the bushes. Luckily they were content to sniff the camper and the scents we left behind, and didn’t harass us.
What in the $#% is wrong with these State Parks people euthanizing the bear?! That should always be the very last resort. There are places that accept bears like this and keep them away from the public so they can live out their lives in a safe wild habitat. One is in Ely, Minnesota.
That WAS the last resort. Didn’t you read the ENTIRE article?
A bear came through the back of our campsite at swallow falls Maryland. We got the dog and ourselves into the trailer as quickly as possible. I then called out a warning to the other campers. Amazingly my warning drew a couple with their 2 small children to our site hoping to see the bear! Alarming stupidity!
That’s called “earning a Darwin Award”, on their behalf…
Just got back from a month or more trip up to Northern California we spent a couple of weeks in South lake Tahoe, there were bears in the campgrounds every night. In particular Sugar Pine Point campground was rife with bears. They take it seriously when you check in insisting you keep your campsite free of any food or containers or trash and to keep your doors locked at ALL times. After you’ve read and signed the rules in front of them they allow you to proceed. Immediately upon arrival to our site the neighbors in a hard sided pop up informed us that a bear had broken into their trailer while they were gone fortunately not too much damage. We saw several bears. Scary. Be safe.