Black Bear Gets Caught Red-Handed Breaking Into A Home For Snack Time

We all know bears love food. From Winnie the Pooh's endless desire for honey to Yogi Bear stealing picnic baskets, the running jokes about bears' love for snacks abound. There's a reason for that stereotype, as real-life bears are known to forage for food around backyards and campgrounds. But wait till you see this black bear who got caught red-handed on camera breaking into a Lake Tahoe home to grab a few snacks! 

A hungry black bear broke into a cabin in Lake Tahoe, California, and stole a few snacks. pic.twitter.com/Zg01QNj2RP

— ABC News (@ABC) August 14, 2026

In August 2026, some vacationers came back to a surprise at their California cabin — a hungry black bear had broken in and stolen some snacks. In the surveillance clip, you see the bear on the porch casually ripping out a window screen before pulling itself up and disappearing inside, only to come back out with a pack of brioche buns in its mouth. A report by the Sacramento Bee shared that the unexpected visitor also ate some croissants and steaks out on the porch and then wandered back off into the woods.

"I too like brioche buns," said someone on the ABC News X post. Meanwhile, another person added, "Am I the only one who finds those fluffy creatures cute?🥰 If they weren't so dangerous, I would pet them all day! 😆" Forget the picnic basket — this bear went straight for the kitchen!

Black bears are basically opportunistic omnivores, meaning they'll eat whatever is available instead of sticking to one favorite meal. A bear might munch on berries, roll a rotten log for insects, or happily snack on unattended people food left behind at a campsite, making them the ultimate foragers. For the most part, black bears eat a plant-based diet, though they do eat smaller animals and fish. The time of year plays a big role in a black bear's daily food hunt. In spring, they often focus on vegetation and scavenge dead animals after emerging from their dens after a long winter. Meanwhile, summer means plenty of insects, nuts and berries, and other easy-to-find snacks. 

In fall, when bears enter an intense period of eating before winter, they can spend much of their day searching for calorie-rich foods to build up fat reserves for hibernation. Of course, sometimes, a bear's idea of a buffet suspiciously looks like someone's backyard when unsecured garbage, bird feeders, and other household goodies can provide an easy meal, which is why bears occasionally wander into neighborhoods. To a hungry bear, a yard can seem like a convenience store, especially when natural food is harder to find, so keep that in mind and just let them pass through with little fanfare.

Can't get enough of bear antics? Check out this bear walking off with a golfer's clubs, and this fearless house cat who chases a bear away. And here's how to respond if you come across a bear while walking your dog.