
Outcry as California bear fatally shot after Tahoe camper attack
A woman was startled awake at around 4.30 a.m. on Sunday to find an American black bear pawing at her locked door at Eagle Point Campground in Emerald Bay State Park.
The light-furred sow had two five-month-old cubs along with a 'long history of human conflict, including multiple home invasions and vehicle break-ins,' according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The camper banged pots and pans and screamed in an attempt to scare the bear. Despite her best efforts, the animal managed to force its way inside.
The bear swiped at the woman, leaving her with cuts and bruises on her arm, wrist, and hand that required hospital treatment.
In another incident later that morning, the bear clawed at the door of a campervan, ripping it open as teenagers slept inside.
DNA evidence linked the bear to a spate of disturbances and attacks, which led to it being labeled as 'Public Safety Bear.' It ultimately meant it had to be targeted and 'humanely euthanized,' according to the CDFW's black bear policy.
A state park ranger shot and killed the bear on Monday near the campground, CDFW spokesperson Peter Tira told SF Gate Thursday.
The bear's death has sparked a wave of anger online, with many pointing fingers at humans for encroaching on bear territory.
'Funny how humans move into a bear's territory and then kill said bear because they become a nuisance...in their own home,' one furious Facebook user responded to the CDFW's post about the incident.
'Humans have endless places they can go. Bears don't, thanks to humans,' another added. 'Killing an animal because it's a nuisance is wrong.'
Meanwhile, a third Facebook user thanked the CDFW for 'making the tough decisions,' adding: 'Keep up the good, hard work!'
The sow's cubs have been orphaned and are being housed in a rehabilitation facility, with the hope that they can one day be returned to the wild.
'As wildlife professionals who devote our careers to the health and well-being of California's fish and wildlife species, euthanasia is a measure of last resort,' said Morgan Kilgour, regional manager for CDFW's North Central Region.
'Our foremost responsibility, however, remains the protection of human life and the safety of the Tahoe region.'
The agency stated that it had been attempting to trap the bear since June 17, following multiple 911 calls. The animal failed to respond to seven attempts to haze it out of human-occupied areas.
California has the largest population of black bears in the continental U.S., according to the department.
Human‑bear interactions are especially high and urbanized in South Lake Tahoe. The region was home to the infamous 500lbs ' Hank the Tank,' who broke into dozens of homes in 2022.
The region is home to more than a third of all bears in the Tahoe Basin, with about 500 on the South Shore alone, according to South Tahoe Now.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dramatic moment cops raid LA home of Netflix star pastor in sex-trafficking probe
A California home linked to a ' TikTok cult pastor' was raided by federal agents as part of a probe into sex trafficking. Robert Shinn, pastor of the Shekinah Church and the subject of a Netflix documentary, had an address linked to him in Tujunga raided on Friday. Authorities executed warrants related to allegations of sex trafficking, tax evasion, mail fraud, money laundering and Covid-19 related fraud, according to KTLA. Several people were detained at the home, at least six people could be seen handcuffed in helicopter footage captured by the outlet of the raid. Shinn founded the church in 1994 and founded a talent management firm named 7M Films which was formed 'to help social media stars and TikTok dancers find jobs'. The Netflix series, titled 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult', centered on the property and accusations that Shinn had abused and manipulated former members. It examined stories and lawsuits relating to the church and the company, some of which accused Shinn of sexual assault. No charges were brought against him Neighbor Jake Hartmann spoke with the LA Times, saying he heard flash-bangs being let off in the early hours on Friday. He said: 'I was getting ready for work when I heard the flash-bangs go off. Then a loud speaker, "you need to come out, hands up".' An unknown man who exited the property on Friday told a Times reporter that the raid was 'just a misunderstanding'. Officials in the Golden State have not confirmed if anyone was arrested during the raid. Shinn was accused of indoctrinating members with his religious ideology while profiting from their talents by claiming a portion of their income in the documentary. One member, Miranda Derrick, serves as the documentary's focus, with her family claiming she was brainwashed by Shinn and encouraged to abandon her family. Derrick later took to her Instagram and branded the series as being 'one-sided' and assured her fans that she is 'not a victim'. Shinn never personally responded to the Netflix series, but his company 7M posted on Instagram branding it a 'slanderous work of fiction'. It added: 'We will continue to pursue all legal remedies available to stop the spread of salacious lies and expect to be fully vindicated in court.' CNN reported that Shinn filed a defamation suit against former members, claiming they had made false statements about the group and had tried to cancel him. Defendants in the case then joined with other members against Shinn and his wife, alleging 'fraud, forced labor and human trafficking'. The countersuit alleged Shinn had been responsible for 'brainwashing, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation and exploitation'. KTLA reported that a trial has been set to start in October, authorities would not say if the raid was in connection with controversy surrounding the Netflix series.


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
California's cheapest place to live has a hidden drawback
By The median price for an existing single-family home in Lassen was just $286,500 in June 2025 - a fraction of the $899,560 statewide median and the $1.4 million average seen across the Bay Area. While Lassen offers striking high desert landscapes and unbeatable value, some buyers may be surprised to learn that the local economy has long been tied to the state correctional system. 'There's a large prison there,' said Billy Taylor, a real estate agent based in neighboring Plumas County, 30 minutes from Lassen County. 'A lot of the locals work as prison guards, and others move there to be closer to incarcerated loved ones.' The facility - High Desert State Prison - has been one of the region's largest employers since it opened in 1995. But long before the prison arrived, Lassen County was known for something else entirely. 'It's a very rural town known for cattle ranching and timber harvesting,' Taylor said. 'That's what it was built on - it was strictly ranching before the prison came in.' It's also a draw for outdoor enthusiasts, he added, with 'world-class hunting and fishing,' including large mule deer and the famous Eagle Lake trout, a prized species unique to the area. Susanville, the county seat, has a population of nearly 10,000 and still reflects that rugged, frontier identity - one that may appeal to buyers looking for space, affordability, and access to nature. Taylor emphasized that Lassen County offers exceptional value, particularly for those priced out of more populated markets. 'You can't build a house for what existing homes are selling for,' he said, noting that buyers can find ranchettes with acreage and 'elbow space' at prices rarely seen elsewhere in California. Most homes, he added, are selling below asking price, typically within 5 to 10 percent of list. Lassen isn't the only county offering relative bargains – four others also posted median home prices well below the statewide average, according to the Realtors' report. Lake County at $301,380; Trinity County at $311,000; Siskiyou County at $315,000; and Plumas County at $328,750 are the most affordable in the state. Plumas, in particular, is attracting buyers from Nevada and the greater Reno area, thanks to its mountain views, small–town feel, and access to Lake Almanor – a quiet resort community locals call 'what Tahoe was 30 years ago.' According to Zillow, California's average 30–year fixed mortgage rate stood at 6.88 percent as of July 18. But in Lassen and other rural areas, sellers are showing more flexibility. Jordan Levine, senior vice president of the California Association of Realtors, said homes are staying on the market longer, and sellers are more open to negotiation. 'Amid stabilizing home prices and a greater availability of homes for sale, California's housing market rebounded in June, but remained below year-ago levels,' the Realtors Group said in a news release. Heather Ozur, California Association of Realtors president, added: 'With more properties on the market and price growth flattening, conditions have become more favorable for prospective buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines to re-enter the market and take advantage of increased negotiating power.' With scenic terrain, low prices, and a slower pace of life, Lassen County may offer an appealing alternative for budget–conscious buyers – as long as they're not deterred by its prison–town identity.


The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Between Trump-Epstein and redistricting, Democrats finally figured out how to fight back
On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson let the House of Representatives break for August recess one day early. Johnson had no other option because Democrats ground the chamber to a halt in an attempt to get their Republican colleagues to vote on files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) — joined by Trump-rebelling Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) — had been gathering co-sponsors for their discharge petition that would allow them to circumvent leadership to release files related to the convicted sex offender and trafficker. But discharge petitions need seven legislative business days to 'ripen,' so cutting short the calendar delays the ripening. It marked a turning point for a party that's been flailing since Donald Trump won last November. For the past few months, while Democrats have opposed Trump's initiatives, they have not landed a single clean punch politically. Rather, they've mostly stayed out of the way and hoped for his unforced errors, of which there have been several. But that changed significantly this week. Democrats of all stripes in the House signed onto the discharge petition. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) represents a district that voted for Trump. But she signed onto Khanna and Massie's discharge petition and did not mince words. 'We deserve transparency and I'm pretty appalled to see parliamentary procedure used to hide pedophiles,' she told The Independent. Democrats did get some substantial wins out of it, too. Not only did the House Oversight Committee vote to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and associate who is serving a 20-year sentence; three Republicans crossed over in one of the subcommittees to subpoena files related to the Epstein investigation. And Democrats are not just gumming up the works on the House side. Earlier this week, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), told The Independent that he hoped that the Senate would not take up the Epstein files. Unfortunately for his caucus, Democrats in the Senate decided to hijack the committee process there, too. On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee convened for legislation Cornyn wanted to pass through the committee on opioids. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) attempted to include an amendment related to Epstein. In the same token, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) tried to force a vote to disclose files related to Epstein, but Republicans blocked his efforts on the floor. It should be stated that Booker and Gallego both likely want to run for president. During the August recess, Gallego will head to Iowa, which traditionally hosts the first presidential caucus. And ever since Booker's record-breaking sort-of filibuster, he has raised prodigious amounts of money and he likely sees this as a way to boost his profile even more. But Democrats are not just drawing blood on Epstein. Earlier this month, the Texas state legislature announced it would reconvene in the middle of the decade to redraw its congressional maps in an attempt to flip more seats and grow the GOP majority. That seems to have set off something in Democrats. Gov. Gavin Newsom has said that Democrats should respond in kind by having California redraw their map. And it's not just liberal Newsom who supports this idea. Rep. Adam Gray, a freshman Democrat who narrowly flipped a seat Trump won, expressed openness to Newsom's proposal. 'I think what's important is that people all play by the same rules,' he told The Independent. 'And you know, I think it doesn't necessarily help either party to be toying around or trying to manipulate the rules, or change the rules, that seems to be what Texas is doing, which I think is a poor decision.' California has a unique situation because it has an independent commission that draws congressional districts. Any effort to shore up Democrats in the Golden State would need to pass legal scrutiny or change that situation. Unsurprisingly, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) put it more bluntly. 'The only way that you can deal with a bully is by socking them back, so it's time for us to sock them back,' Crockett told The Independent. 'Right now they decided to start a fight so that they could shit on the American people. The least that we could help is fight back so that we could help the American people.' But perhaps the most audacious idea came from Gallego, who suggested that Democrats dilute districts that the Voting Rights Act protected to ensure equal representation of Black voters, as a way to make more districts where Democrats could win. 'I would tell you what I would know would happen the Republicans at any point should they ever take control of the registry commission in Arizona, what absolutely do anything, do to do to screw us,' he told The Independent. Therefore, he said that Democrats should not be afraid to use the same weapons against Republicans. That might not go over well with some African-American voters, who are the most consistent voters in Democratic primaries. At the same time, in a time when Democratic voters have demanded that theys see elected officials fight, they might be more unwilling to let go of old decorum rules.