A South Lake Tahoe bear looks for dinner. Photo/Janice Eastburn

Bears in Lake Tahoe are common — after all, these black bears (though many are brown and cinnamon in color) were here long before the region was developed. The problem is with open dumpsters like these because then the bears get used to eating human food.

One bruin has been roaming around the Taylor Creek area in recent weeks. It’s easy pickings for the bruins right now as the kokanee salmon are spawning. This is behavior that is natural and normal.

These bears at Bijou Woods Apartments in South Lake Tahoe were photographed by Janice Eastburn on Oct. 15 about 4:45pm.