An Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife manager euthanized a bear Friday in Prescott Valley.
Wildlife managers already had tranquilized the same bear in Mayer this past July, then tagged and moved it about 50 miles to a remote part of the Prescott National Forest. The adult female bear had wandered into someone's yard in Mayer and ran up a tree when encountered.
On Friday an assisted living center worker was pulling into the center on Dodge Circle a few blocks south of Highway 89A when she saw the bear in her headlights at about 6 a.m., about an hour before sunrise. It reared up at her, but when she honked the vehicle's horn the bear ran up into a tree, Game and Fish officials said.
Children also wait for the school bus in the neighborhood, and that was another reason the wildlife manager decided to euthanize the bear, agency spokesperson Rory Aikens said.
Game and Fish written guidelines allow wildlife managers to euthanize bears that exhibit "unacceptable behavior," including bears that continue to investigate high-human-use areas and bears that are in areas where children are present.
The bear should have been in hibernation, Game and Fish Region III Supervisor Bob Posey added. It appeared healthy and had been placed in an area with plenty of wild food, he said.
The press release said Prescott Valley Police had received several possible burglary calls the previous night that were "likely attributable to this bear foraging" for food in the area.
Local police told the wildlife officer about those calls, Posey related.
However, PV police spokesman Sgt. Brandon Bonney said the only call he found from that region around that time was from someone who said an unknown person rang his/her doorbell.
"At this point, nothing is close enough to attribute to the bear," Bonney added.
Even without evidence that the bear had been rummaging for food, that clearly is why it came all the way back to town, Posey said.
"This repeat offender was by no means a candidate to be captured and released again," Posey said.
Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Kat Parks
I grew up in MT, where it was not just Black bears, but also Grizzly bears to watch out for. Any bear that has become used to "dumpster diving" is unsafe. They are more unpredictable than bears who have not had human junk food out of the trash cans. Once a bear is caught, it is generally tagged/tattooed so that if it is captured again, the next time it's tranq'd they will find the tattoo or tag, and will know where it was released and the measures it took to get back to humans instead of foraging where it should, in the wilderness. This tells G&F that relocation is no longer an option for this individual. It is not certain whether this bear would have gone on dumpster diving without ever harming anyone, but the risk to kids in the neighborhood was one that rightfully shouldn't be gambled upon. I believe F&G made the right decision. I would hope that the bear's carcass would be put to good use, though that's not the issue. They may have had it stuffed and mounted for education, or they have enough stuffed bears for all their F&G field offices and education exhibits. The meat wouldn't have been edible for anything other than scavengers, though maybe places like Southwest Wildlife Rehab could have used it for their animals to eat. Once a bear eats human food for a while, it tastes awful.
Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009
Article comment by:
trippetta
What I am really curious about, is do they (The Game & Fish Dept.) at least make use of the flesh and hide of the animal or do they just dispose of the animal like so much trash? I personally did not need tens of thousands of dollars to be educated or to educate my son on how to show Mother Nature some respect; but Kudo's to you Norma for your generous contribution to a "cause"
Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009
Article comment by:
norma
It is sad that some of you "modern" folks seem to think that bears watch the same Disney movies you do. Are you willing to bet public safety on it? This bear was a known repeat offender. It was moved to the forest. IT CAME BACK. Game and Fish officers should be thanked not criticized. 40 years ago this paper ran a story of a Game and Fish officer who was severely wounded by a bear while trying to protect the public near Prescott. He was heralded as a hero. By the way I have spent my own money (tens of thousands of dollars) relocating offending bears out of state with Game and Fish’s co-operation, how much have you spent? Lets get real.
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Article comment by:
Tricia
How funny that some of you want to kill All repeat offenders, whether they are robbers or "criminals" isn't murder the biggest sin and crime?(Or harboring the thought of violence in your heart.) No respect for nature or your fellow man,real solutions are to difficult so just shoot first & ask questions later huh? The hidden truth is that it is not bears that are unpredictable,it is man that is unpredictable and to be feared.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Awwww C'mon!
Yea, I hear all you "bug-huggers" crying for the bear right now, but if it would have attacked and killed a child? you'd be complaining about game and fish NOT protecting us. Next time we have a loose bear or cougar running around, why don't all of you run out with some steaks and sweet tqalk it into taking a nice ride with you? Thank You AZ Game and Fish- Good Call!
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
What Wildlife Preservation
Too bad we couldnt do the same to all the child molestors and robbers and all the criminals around here. And as for the bear hibernating, who is the ignorant person who came up with this? They dont start hibernating until late November and early December. Oh thats right, lets just kill it, and not try and do your job of wildlife preservation. That way you can get back to your cozy office to sit around and do nothing.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Robert Sagl
Public opinion says this was a huge error in judgement. Killing is never an exceptable solution. But it is quick and permanent. How arrogant.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
David
The Bear was exhibiting "unacceptable behavior"??? Sounds like the bear was doing what bears do. This article doesn't explain why after the second offense, the bear could not just be relocated an acceptable distance from the populated area for the safety of all involved.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
We should shoot and kill all repeat offenders!
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Tricia
Also Bears begin hibernation in the winter not the fall, the forage for food in the fall to sustain themselves through the winter.(It is still Fall)
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Tricia
Actually I have encountered a bear in the wild from about 20 feet away near a stream in the forests of Michigan. My Father and Grandfather were there and we all looked at him admired it's beauty and went on our way.It's because of people with no knowledge of wildlife who'd run around screaming OH My God A bear it's going to kill my poodle my child, and therefor teach there children fear and not respect for nature. Guess what? I also saw a coyote while hiking the other day, and I jumped on a log made a loud noise like a gun and the thing took off like a rocket.Point is this bear could have been tranquilized & put into the forest where it at least could stand a chance to survive people's ignorance about how to act in accordance with nature.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
len mattsen
To the good folks of the PV area.
Bears are wild animals, omnivores and opportunistic feeders. (that means the eat anything, any where any time they can)
I too regret the killing of a bear who had become habituated to human contact.(it had been fed near humans)
Game and Fish personnel have a higher duty to protect human life than wildlife.
Please, let us all find a middle ground in this debate and try to understand that we have incomplete info.
1. This bear had been removed before,
2. There is a bus stop for children nearby,
3. bears are unpredictable, deadly hunters that kill to eat,
4. our children are more precious than bears,
5. extremism, on either side, is counter productive.
Thank you for reading this bit of reasoning.
Len Mattsen
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
To "Here it comes..." I do have a name it's Christy not "fella" and pretty much as I said...way to much time on your hands...perfect example of your response!!! In regards to all who think this was a senseless act on Fish and Game do they ever do anything correctly, I for one have called upon them before regarding injured animals and to no avail!!! Let's face it this is still a good old boys town that desperately needs to acquire a more modern mentality!!
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Did Game & Fish know the bear was already relocated once before he fired 2 shots or after. I bet it wasn't until he killed it that he found out its history. Not all bears are in hibernation yet. That was a lame statement. There was no need to kill her. What have we become?
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
