Erratic bear had been shot in face with pellet gun prior to euthanization in Colorado
A mama bear suffering in distress was euthanized in Colorado by wildlife officials due to dangerous and erratic behavior.
The 200-pound bear was euthanized on Monday, September 23, after wildlife officers responded to reports of a bear “acting strangely” near an elementary school in west Colorado Springs. Her two 60-pound cubs were tranquilized to be released back into the mountains.
Here’s are two cubs, each about 60 pounds, prior to their release in the mountains today. Their mother was acting erratically Monday and found by @COParksWildlife officers to be in severe distress in a neighborhood near a school in #ColoradoSprings. She was humanely euthanized. pic.twitter.com/qIbIQNwQGj — CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) September 24, 2019
A necropsy performed on the sow later determined why her behavior was so erratic. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the necropsy found that the sow was shot in the face above the eye with a pellet rifle. A large tumor in the nasal cavity was infiltrating the brain, which was likely the cause of her erratic behavior.
Our officers consulted a CPW wildlife biologist and a veterinarian before euthanizing the suffering sow, seen here. The necropsy found it had a large tumor in the nasal cavity that was infiltrating the brain. It also had been shot in the face, above the eye, with a pellet rifle. pic.twitter.com/iyCK7XkXNs — CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) September 25, 2019
The necropsy also revealed that the stomach contents of the sow consisted mostly of trash and human food. Here’s a list of items that were found inside the bear’s stomach: raw chicken, a potato, cigarette butt, aluminum foil, pickle, french fry, hamburger wrapper, paper towels, birdseed, beans, fruit, butter wrappers, pen cap, and strawberry preserves packets.
The stomach contents of the sow @COParksWildlife officers euthanized Monday included raw chicken, potato, a cigarette butt, aluminum foil, pickle, a french fry, hamburger wrapper, paper towels, birdseed, beans, fruit, butter wrappers, pen cap, strawberry preserves packets. pic.twitter.com/NqXiwD7jgw — CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) September 25, 2019
According to a report from Fox31 Denver, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers have received nearly 5,000 bear-related reports this year, which led to 88 bears being euthanized so far in 2019.
Please remember to be “bear aware” in Colorado. Lock up your trash for yours and the bears’ safety. Remove all food sources including garbage, recycling, bird feeders, pet food, dirty barbecue grills, and open compost. For more tips of living safely in bear country, click here.