Colorado Park and Wildlife (CPW) officials tracked and killed a bear on Friday after scratching an individual resident of the Arriola area in Colorado. The animal encountered the homeowner after attempting to obtain dog food from a kennel occupied by the person’s dogs.

The accident occurred at Colorado’s County Road 21 around 11 am; Wildlife officials reported the animal was a juvenile bear trying to obtain food from the kennel.  The dog owner to save the dogs got swiped by the animal and got a scratch on the arm.

The black bear is one of the wild animals with the most deadly encounters in the U.S., considering the recent bear-related events. This occurrences usually end up with the animal being killed. Image Credit: CS Independent
The black bear is one of the wild animals with the most deadly encounters in the U.S., considering the recent bear-related events. This occurrence usually ends up with the animal being killed. Image Credit: CS Independent

Wildlife is commonly euthanized when harming a human being, according to CPW protocol, officers tracked the animal that was shot a little after encountering CPW officials.

“ I don’t consider this a true attack but for public safety we euthanized the bear to get it tested for diseases,” said Matt Thorpe CPW wildlife manager to the journal

After the incident occurred the victim was treated by doctors who treated the wound on the victim’s arm.  After performing a biopsy on the animal, the laboratory confirmed a small concern for a disease on the bear’s system.

Thorpe explained that young bears tend to act in that way because they haven’t conquered their territory. Assuring the animal appeared to be healthy and was also guilty for the death of chickens in nearby residents recently.

“The commotion probably caused the bear to swipe in an effort to defend its claim on the dog food,” explained Thorpe in a press release.

Bear Aware

CPW’ has an online segment to explain bear behavior and how to proceed in case of an encounter, to prevent accidents and maintain wildlife. This types of animals, especially black bears tend to be very curious and intelligent, so is only logical for them to search for food resources in different places.

Officials from the CPW advise citizens to be aware of food sources left near homes, camps, and vehicles located in bear-like areas. Explaining that a bear will work hard to obtain food resources and could be harmful to infrastructures, vehicles and in the case of a violent response, to human beings as well.

“Every time we’re forced to destroy a bear, it’s not just the bear that loses. We all lose a little piece of the wildness that makes Colorado so special,” says the CPW advising citizens to obtain information on the subject to avoid the killing of a bear.

Recently a 17-year old gorilla, named Harambe, was killed at the Cincinnati Zoo after a three-year-old boy climbed and fell into the animal’s cage.  The little boy was dragged around by the 400 lb male gorilla but wasn’t harmed.

Social media and animal protectors have condemned the decision of shooting the animal, after a viral video of the happening emerged online. Supporters are protesting against the decision of killing the animal, instead of shooting it with a sleeping dart.  Zoo members single-killed the gorilla who had recently celebrated it’s anniversary on the facility, while rescuing the unnamed child.

Two lions were also killed by zookeepers in Chile after a religious man jumped into the cage to recreate a biblical fight between an animal and a person.

Source: The Journal