Bear claws tent at Camp Rich, leaves camper with scratches
By Bill Lindelof, Sacramento Bee
State fish and game officials warned the public to take precautions to avoid encounters with bears in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The warning comes in the wake of a black bear tearing at a tent at Camp Richardson over the weekend.
The camper suffered shallow scratches on his back in the late-night attack on Sunday. The camper said that he had no food in the tent, leaving it unclear why the bear was so intent on getting inside.
The bear had been seen around Camp Richardson prior to the incident. After the camper suffered his injury, state department of fish and game officials said the bear had to be killed because it was a threat to public safety.
Officials warn that bears are constantly searching for food. Access to food or garbage at a campground or in residential neighborhood Dumpsters attract bears.
Bears that get used to scavenging garbage or camp food grow bold and lose their fear of humans.