A man had a terrifying encounter with a bear outside his vacation home in Lake Tahoe on Independence Day, using bear spray to fend it off.
The incident was captured on video, showing Cortland Kelwitz from Sacramento as she stepped outside to check on a bear that her daughter had spotted rummaging through their trash.
As Kelwitz exited, she prepared the bear spray in her right hand, and almost immediately noticed a bear charging toward her. In a swift reaction, she sprayed it with a bright orange mist.
After being sprayed, the bear promptly turned and fled the scene.
Kelwitz later shared the experience with KCRA, explaining that the bear spray accidentally hit her in the eye during the chaos. “It felt like something was stuck in my left eye when the bear lunged at me. We both freaked out, sprayed, and I ended up getting some in my eye,” she recounted.
She noted that bears are quite common in the Lake Tahoe area, often rummaging through cars and trash cans for food. However, she admitted the bear’s aggressive behavior was out of the ordinary. She suggested that people keep their trash secure, avoid leaving food in vehicles, and stay alert.
This close call occurred in Tahoma, a picturesque area along Lake Tahoe’s shores. Kelwitz even posted a clip of the incident on Instagram, jokingly responding to inquiries about whether it was fake: “I’ve been asked if this is Ai. Hahaha, no.”
Kelwitz mentioned that this bear had previously gone into their trash and exhibited aggression after being startled by her daughter and her friends. Interestingly, they had food and drinks prepared for a boating outing, but she had never been charged by a bear before.
California is home to an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 black bears, with Lake Tahoe boasting the second-highest concentration in the state.
If you come across a bear, it’s advised to reach out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at (916) 358-2917.
