Young bear euthanized after lethargic behavior, tests negative for rabies - KATU

A young bear initially raised concerns for community members in the South Hill area of Eugene, after lingering around a public road last Thursday morning, on July 16. Chris Pedersen, a Fox Hollow resident, initially spotted the bear at 9:00 a.m. "I thought it was strange that the cub didn't scamper back into the woods with me looking at it and my dog barking," Chris Pedersen said. In an effort to steer the small bear back into the woods, away from moving cars, residents placed fruit about 50 feet off the main road. This worked for a short amount of time, but eventually the bear returned to be seen laying down in the road, according to Pedersen. Two hours after the initial siting, Pedersen says the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) were called by a fellow concerned neighbor, who was told to "let nature take its course." He says once more neighbors called with concerns, ODFW and Oregon State Police arrived on scene. When attempting to capture the bear, it tried biting at ODFW biologists and OSP officers, according to ODFW Public Affairs Specialist Meghan Dugan. ODFW says the bear was in bad condition. Its hair was disheveled, constantly pacing back and forth between houses. The ODFW biologists noted the 38-pound yearling would walk with his head down, a possible sign of illness. Dugan said once contained, ODFW began to transport the small bear to their wildlife health lab in Corvallis. "The bear lied down in the crate it was in. They pulled over to check on it, and they saw a pool of drool in the carrier. The bear had some very shallow, rapid breathing and was unresponsive. So, the biologist observed it for about 15 minutes, and there was no response, so they made the decision to put it down," said Dugan. ODFW says euthanasia was the most humane option for the small bear, who was most likely abandoned by its mother and unable to fend for itself. They say that rehabilitation was not a possibility for the small bear, who was likely to have died naturally by the end of the day . "Two to three times a year we get these young bears that just cannot fend for themselves, and you know, they get weak, they get emaciated, and they die," said Dugan. The ODFW says the unusual behavior raised concerns for rabies, given the pacing back and forth and loss of wariness. They say testing for rabies was a necessary precaution since the yearling was in contact with humans. The test for rabies came back negative. Further testing is underway to better understand the unusual behavior in the bear. Dugan emphasizes the importance of staying "bear-wise" and ensuring trash is kept inside until trash day. She also reminds residents to maintain clean grills and pick up discarded fruit that might attract hungry wildlife. "So many of us live in that urban-wildland interface, and it's really important to learn how to live with the wildlife and keep our bears wild," said Dugan.