Lake Tahoe – A black bear named Rose chose an unsecured crawl space beneath a rented cabin as the birthplace for her three new cubs, creating an unexpected wildlife spectacle in the snowy Sierra Nevada region.[1][2]
Renter Hears First Signs of New Life
A young renter settled into his Lake Tahoe cabin this winter, only to hear strange cries echoing from under the floorboards shortly after arrival. The noises turned out to be newborn bear cubs, alerting him to the presence of a mother bear in the crawl space below. He promptly contacted the BEAR League, a local nonprofit dedicated to bear safety.[2]
Executive Director Anne Bryant recalled the moment: “As soon as he moved in, he started hearing babies crying under his floorboards.” The renter embraced his unusual roommates, even naming the cubs Echo, Oakley, and Storm. His supportive attitude earned him the nickname “papa bear” from the organization. Videos captured the tiny cubs squealing loudly as they nursed and clambered over their mother.[3]
Rose’s Path from Tragedy to Triplets
Rose, a familiar figure to Tahoe wildlife watchers, had endured heartbreak the previous winter. She gave birth to two cubs, Ellis and Rubicon, in another crawl space den, but both perished after being struck by vehicles. The BEAR League expressed relief at her quick return to motherhood, noting she mated with a male bear named Bernardo.[3]
Black bears rarely reproduce in consecutive years, making Rose’s triplets a remarkable event. She slipped into the open crawl space entrance in early January, delivering her cubs before anyone noticed. The family now huddles in the warm, protected space, safe from winter’s harsh conditions. Experts estimate the cubs are nearly a month old and thriving.[4]
BEAR League Monitors the Family Closely
The BEAR League installed a camera, dubbed CubCam’26, to track the bears’ progress and share updates on their Facebook page. Footage reveals Rose lying patiently as her energetic offspring nurse and play, their high-pitched calls filling the den. The group emphasized that eviction was impossible: “Rose found an unsecured crawl space opening and gave birth before anyone realized she was there. As soon as the cubs were born, all bets were off and it was too late to evict her. The cubs would have died.”[3]
Monitoring helps prevent damage like chewed pipes or shredded insulation, which could cost thousands. The renter cooperates fully, tolerating the constant noise while aiding protection efforts. This setup allows the bears to remain undisturbed in their ideal winter refuge.[5]
Living Alongside Bears in Tahoe Country
Incidents like this highlight the growing black bear population around Lake Tahoe, estimated at 500 in the basin. Residents face reminders to bear-proof homes amid human expansion into wildlife habitats. The BEAR League offers practical prevention steps:
- Secure crawl spaces, porches, and garages with sturdy doors or grates.
- Store garbage in bear-resistant containers until pickup day.
- Keep yards free of food attractants like bird feeders or pet food.
- Clear away fallen fruit and avoid composting meat or dairy.
- Install electric fencing around vulnerable areas.
These measures reduce conflicts and protect both bears and property. Wildlife officials stress that attacks remain rare, as bears prefer to avoid people.[1]
Key Takeaways
- Rose and her triplets will emerge around April, ready to venture into the wild.
- Human tolerance, like the renter’s, aids successful coexistence.
- Proactive securing prevents future dens and costly repairs.
This charming episode underscores the delicate balance between Tahoe’s human and bear populations. Rose’s family offers a vivid reminder of nature’s resilience. What do you think about sharing space with wildlife? Tell us in the comments.
