Bear Encounter at Lake Tahoe Vacation Home

A man from California had a startling experience when a black bear charged at him outside his vacation home in Lake Tahoe during the Fourth of July holiday. This dramatic moment was even caught on video.

Cortland Kelwitz, from Sacramento, explained to local news outlet KCRA 3 that the incident began when his daughter saw the bear digging through a trash can in their garage.

Kelwitz quickly grabbed bear spray and headed outside to check things out. But almost immediately, the situation escalated—the bear lunged straight at him.

“It felt like something was stuck in my left eye, and then the bear came at me. We both panicked and just sprayed—well, it hit me too, right in the eye,” Kelwitz recalled.

The video shows Kelwitz approaching the garage, when the bear suddenly rushed toward him. He then sprayed the bear, causing it to run away.

Typically, bears roam around Lake Tahoe searching for food and often get into trash cans and unlocked cars. However, Kelwitz indicated that the bear’s aggressive behavior during this encounter was rather unusual.

Wildlife officials note that black bears are common in the Tahoe area, often attracted by unsecured food and trash. They encourage residents and visitors to securely store trash and keep food away from vehicles in order to minimize these kinds of encounters.

Kelwitz shared his story in hopes of raising awareness among locals and tourists about the importance of securing trash and being cautious while in bear territory. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been contacted regarding this incident, and the case is reportedly being handled by the Tahoe Wildlife Conflict Team.