A black bear charged a man outside his Lake Tahoe vacation home on July 4, 2026, after his daughters spotted the animal rummaging through garbage in the garage. The man, Cortlandt Koerwitz, deployed bear spray, which deterred the bear but also affected him due to overspray.
Koerwitz told ABC News and KCRA 3 that the encounter began when his daughters noticed the bear near the family's garbage. He grabbed bear spray and went outside, where the bear suddenly charged. Video footage shows the bear turning away after Koerwitz sprayed it.
Koerwitz described the incident as unusual, noting that bears frequently wander through the Lake Tahoe area but rarely exhibit aggressive behavior. He emphasized the importance of keeping bear spray readily available in bear country.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated that black bears are common in the Lake Tahoe Basin and are often attracted to unsecured trash. Officials advise residents and visitors to secure garbage and remove other food attractants to reduce human-bear conflicts.