Momma bear named ‘Hank the Tank,’ 3 cubs captured after almost 2 dozen, DNA-confirmed home invasions in past year

California wildlife officials have captured a massive black bear dubbed “Hank the Tank,” after a string of home invasions over the past year. 

Wildlife biologists for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) captured the large female black bear and three cubs early Friday. 

The department said the bear is responsible for nearly two dozen DNA-confirmed home break-ins and extensive property damage in the South Lake Tahoe area between February 2022 and May 2023. 

CDFW says the bear is one of multiple bears identified by the public as “Hank the Tank” based on visual observations. 

The bear is being transferred to the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Springfield, Colorado. 

The cubs will potentially be relocated to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, a CDFW-permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility in the hopes they can discontinue their negative behavior learned while accompanying their mother on home invasions, CDFW said.

The agency hopes to release the cubs back into the wild.