California wildlife officials captured a massive 500-pound black bear dubbed 'Hank the Tank,' which they say broke into nearly 2 dozen homes

• California biologists captured a 500-pound black bear responsible for 21 home break-ins.
• Locals dubbed the bear "Hank the Tank" in 2022 after a spate of property damage.

California wildlife officials say they have captured a 500-pound bear that had been terrorizing the Lake Tahoe area since 2022.

Locals dubbed the bear "Hank the Tank" in 2022, when South Lake Tahoe Police had to post a notice asking people to stop inundating them with calls about not euthanizing the bear, according to SFGATE, a San Francisco-based news website.

In February 2022, The New York Times reported that the bear had "lost its fear of people" and could not be stopped by police's use of paintballs, bean bags, sirens, and stun guns.

Hank, who is female, was confirmed by DNA evidence to be responsible for at least 21 different home break-ins and other "extensive property damage," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. Biologists captured the bear on Friday and will send her to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado, the release says.

The bear's three cubs — which were also captured and accompanied her on recent home break-ins — are going to a rehab facility in Sonoma County, California "in hopes they can discontinue the negative behaviors they learned from the sow and can be returned to the wild," the agency said.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife dubbed the bear captured Friday "bear 64F," but noted that 64F is one of multiple bears that the public has identified as "Hank the Tank." SFGATE reported that most of the damage reportedly caused by "Hank the Tank" happened during the winter, a consequence of the climate crisis and little food availability in the area causing bears not to hibernate.