Photos Show Destruction Bear and Cubs Caused in California Home

A California sheriff's department has urged residents to stay vigilant after a bear and its three cubs broke into and trashed a homeowner's basement.

Photos from the recent incident were shared to social media on Tuesday by the Placer County Sheriff's Office, which said a home in Kings Beach, a community on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, had been "torn apart" by the roaming family of bears.

After forcing their way into the home by peeling off a section of the basement, the bears broke a gas line. A neighbor called 911 after smelling the odor.

The owners of the residence were not home at the time, and the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) responded to remove the mother bear and its cubs.

Authorities warned that bear activity has increased around the Tahoe basin over the past few weeks due to warm weather. The homeowners' identities were not released, and the local sheriff's office did not release any specific information about the bears' sizes.

According to the DFW, California is only home to the black bear, although the species is often spotted in a variety of other colors, including brown, blond and cinnamon.

"This is a friendly reminder to keep your homes, windows, sliding doors, and cars locked at all times, and to make sure no remnants of food or food wrappers are left in areas accessible by bears," the sheriff's office said in a caption.

"Secure your garbage cans in bear-proof containers to keep bears out. Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell and can detect food from about 20 miles away—their sense of smell is seven times better than a blood hound's. Please be bear aware!"

There are estimated to be around 25,000 to 30,000 black bears in California. The state doesn't have grizzly bears, but encounters with black bears can still be dangerous.

"If a bear breaks into your home, do not confront the bear. Most bears will quickly look for an escape route," the DFW says in a fact-sheet on its website.

"In the event of a black bear attack, it is usually recommended to fight back. However, each situation is different. Black bear attacks are rare in California and typically are defensive in nature because the bear is surprised or defending cubs; however, bears accustomed to people may become too bold and act aggressively," it adds.

Last October, the state fish and wildlife agency urged residents to practice proper food and garbage storage under the campaign slogan "Keep Tahoe Bears Wild."

It said bears with access to human scraps or garbage will "continue to seek it out" and will be less cautious of people, getting bolder to access the food source.

"Bears that have become indifferent or habituated to the presence of people may cause property damage and threaten public safety. Residents and visitors can help keep bears wild and reduce potential conflicts between bears and humans by acting responsibly in bear country, properly storing food and garbage in bear resistant containers."