On August 17, 2025, deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office discovered a large black bear behind the counter of an ice cream shop located at Camp Richardson in South Lake Tahoe, California. The bear was found rummaging through the shop after hours and appeared to be interested in strawberry ice cream. Officials described the scene as surprising, stating that they "could barely believe their eyes" upon encountering the animal inside the business. Fortunately, the bear caused no major damage and left the premises on its own. The incident was confirmed by multiple law enforcement sources and widely reported by local and international news outlets.