Bear and Cub’s Trash Bin Adventure Delights Viewers

Quick Smiles:

• A bear and her cub were caught on camera rummaging through a trash bin in Lake Tahoe.
• The video has gone viral on TikTok, garnering over 480,000 views.
• Viewers found the bear’s antics amusing and sympathized with its search for food.

A delightful bear encounter has taken the internet by storm, thanks to a viral TikTok video posted by @tayloroliphant_.

The footage, which has amassed over 480,000 views since June 29, captures a bear and her cub in South Lake Tahoe, California, rummaging through a trash bin in search of food.

A simple note overlaid on the video reads: “Mama bear & cub in Lake Tahoe.”

According to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC), black bears in the area typically emerge from hibernation in the spring.

“Moms with yearling cubs and new babies will emerge a bit later as the weather warms,” LTWC explains.

Having lost a third of their body weight during hibernation, these bears are ravenous and will look for food wherever they can find it.

“After losing a third of their body weight, they are hungry and will immediately start looking for food, anywhere they can find it,” LTWC notes.

The video shows the bear knocking over a trash bin and pulling out a bag of garbage with her mouth.

A voice off-camera tries to scare the bear away, but the determined animal grabs the bag again and runs off, leaving a trail of trash behind.

The bear and her cub are then seen enjoying the contents of the bag together.

Habituated bears may even be euthanized if considered a threat to humans, making it all the more crucial to secure trash and food sources effectively.

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