The Accusation

Hank the Tank, a 500-pound black bear, was accused of more than 40 crimes in Lake Tahoe. She was said to break into homes, head straight for the kitchen, and enjoy snacking on whatever food she could find. Wildlife officials described her as very large, and the media called her a nuisance.

The Headlines

As she started making headlines, people everywhere started to fall in love with Hank the Tank. While her actions caused property damage, many believed it wasn't really her fault. She was just smart enough to find easy meals, probably without knowing she was breaking any laws.

The Danger

However, as amusing as the situation seemed to some, it was becoming dangerous. Hank had lost her fear of humans and was too used to human food. Authorities saw her as a public safety risk. As more break-ins were reported, there was even talk of euthanasia as a last resort.

Public Outcry

The public, including local residents, didn't want Hank the Tank to be harmed. They pushed for more investigation into the crimes she was accused of committing. DNA evidence revealed that Hank was only responsible for 21 of the break-ins. Other bears were behind the rest of the crimes.

A New Beginning

With the new evidence, euthanasia was no longer considered. Yet, Hank was still too accustomed to human food to survive in the wild. She was relocated to a 1200-acre sanctuary in Colorado called The Wild Animal Sanctuary. There, Hank is now thriving and even has her own pool.

Hank the Tank's story, from misunderstood troublemaker to beloved sanctuary resident, shows how much a community's love and proper investigation can change the fate of even the largest of bears.