The unexpected visit of a mother bear and her cubs surprises tourists in a California lake

Visitors to California's Lake Tahoen were surprised by a family of bears approaching for food and water.

Visitors to a beach in California were surprised by a family of bears who approached for a swim at Pope Beach in Lake Tahoe. The unexpected sighting took place last Sunday, when the mother bear took her three cubs to the lake to freshen up and look for something to eat. (READ also: [VIDEO] Machu Picchu reduces tourists, mother bear and her cub take advantage of it (and it's not the first time)

Jen Watkins, who was there on vacation with her family, filmed the moment when the little teddy bears were swimming and playing in the water without the slightest problem having to share the moment with the rest of the bathers.

It was so exciting and fun to see this mother bear and her three cubs enjoying a break from the heat. The bears went out to look for food and cool off. They seemed not to even notice all the people looking at them. A real pleasure to see nature at its best, ”Jen tells us.

According to witnesses, the bears arrived there in search of food and water. After eating, Mama Bear then fled the beach with a cooler and headed into the woods with her three cubs.

California drought

This is not the first time this has happened, in 2016 a similar event occurred, in which three bears were captured on the same beach in Lake Tahoe. Already that time we told you about the serious drought problems facing California. Fauna and flora are among the main elements affected, and for this reason many wild animals find it necessary to reach the lake, even in the presence of human beings, to have water available.

Faced with the new bear sighting, the Placer County Sheriff's Office urged residents not to approach if they spot any of these animals nearby while visiting the South Lake Tahoe region. Although some bears appear friendly, they should not be fed or teased as they may try to defend their territory.

The Sheriff's Office has announced that it will increase the presence of Department of Fisheries and Wildlife agents at South Lake Tahoe to monitor these animals. The California Department of Fisheries and Wildlife is concerned that these beach encounters may become more and more common.

We are absolutely concerned, because the more bears get used to people, the more likely there is to be some kind of potentially dangerous conflict, ”said Peter Tira, the department's information officer.

A heat wave with temperatures that in some areas exceed 46 ° C is hitting the southwestern United States these days, including California, which at the same time is experiencing a critical drought. Visiting the bears would seem like a wonderful encounter, however it could be a sign that another season of great fires is approaching.