08/16/2025
A 375-pound black bear was drowning beneath the Tallac Bridge in South Lake Tahoe—sedated, thrashing, and sinking fast.
The crowd stood helpless on the shore… until a man visiting from Russia, Ivan Stepanov, ripped off his shoes and dove in.
The bear had wandered into a neighborhood, been tranquilized by wildlife officers, and stumbled into the frigid lake. Now, with the sedative kicking in, each stroke grew weaker. Ivan swam hard, wrapping his arms under its neck, holding its head above the water, whispering in Russian to keep it calm.
Inch by inch, he guided the bear toward shore, where officers tagged its ear, checked its vitals, and later released it deep into the Sierra Nevada wilderness.
Asked why he risked his life, Ivan just shrugged:
“In my country, we say a man’s strength is measured by who he chooses to protect—even if it has claws.”
