SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There weren't just hungry customers at IHOP in South Lake Tahoe Saturday morning, a hungry bear also decided to stop by.

The large bear got into the dumpster around 8:00 a.m. as staff was taking trash out on October 14, but once in he couldn't get out.

Officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) were called out to assist. The two-sided dumpster had no trash on the side the bear was in, so it had trouble getting footing to get back out. The opposite had trash in it so the bear could have got his footing, but the option of going through the opening at the bottom was not figured out.

Toogee Sielsch, Vice-President of the BEAR League, was also called to the scene to lend his expertise. He said the collared bear was about 400 pounds and estimated to be about 8-15 years old.

He said SLTPD already had things under control when he arrived. People were safe and they were trying different methods to encourage the bear out.

Sielsch tried to help the distressed bear by leaning in and pushing a crate into the side the bear was, but it wasn't used for a boost. By that time Sielsch said the bear was too stressed, and with all the people around it wasn't sure what to do.

One of the SLTPD officers came up with the idea of tying a tow strap to the dumpster to tip it over, allowing the bear to get out.

So when that was done, the large bear did just that, and wandered into the pond area on Wildwood Avenue with the encouragement of Sielsch and others to not go to Highway 50.

"SLTPD did an excellent job," said Sielsch. "Kudos to them, they were cool and calm. They care about wildlife too."