Yellowstone Park Euthanizes Grizzly Bear That Mauled a Hiker to Death In July

A mama grizzly bear, previously involved in a fatal mauling of a hiker near Yellowstone Park in July, met a tragic end after it broke into a house, according to officials.

Reports indicated that early on a Saturday, a homeowner living near Yellowstone Park reported an alarming incident involving a bear and her cub, per the NY Post.

The grizzly had forcibly entered the residence through a kitchen window and seized a dog food container. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks promptly responded to the situation.

Later that day, wildlife agency personnel collaborated with local law enforcement to capture the cub safely.

Regrettably, the 10-year-old female grizzly was deemed an immediate public safety threat due to her food-conditioned behavior and was subsequently euthanized.

This decision was made with authorization from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, given that grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The 46-pound male cub, in proximity to the adult grizzly during the incident, has been captured and is currently housed at the agency's wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena.

In the coming weeks, the cub will be transferred to a zoo, where it will receive care and support.

Euthanized Yellowstone Park Grizzly Bear's Fatal Attacks

Wildlife officials have confirmed through genetic analysis and other identifying characteristics that the adult grizzly bear involved in the recent incident had also been implicated in a fatal attack in July near West Yellowstone, CNN reports.

In that tragic incident, Amie Adamson, a 48-year-old from Derby, Kansas, died on a morning hike or run along Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone.

The attack, which appeared non-predatory, occurred when Adamson was alone without any firearms or bear spray.

The attack in July occurred near homes, campgrounds, and heavily frequented trails, and it was categorized as a defensive response by the bear.

Furthermore, the same bear was linked to an encounter that caused injury to an individual near Henrys Lake State Park in Idaho in 2020.

Following a careful assessment, both incidents were determined to be "defensive responses" by the bear, according to the agency.

Despite numerous efforts to trap and relocate the bear after the fatal attack in July, these endeavors proved unsuccessful, as the bear's presence continued to pose a potential threat due to its proximity to residential areas, campgrounds, and heavily used off-highway vehicle trails.

Officials Warn Residents About Potential Dangers Posed by Bears

Montanans have been cautioned about the increasing bear populations in the state, with officials advising people to "be bear aware," according to the NY Times.

Grizzlies have even been spotted in areas where they hadn't been seen for over a century, like the Pryor Mountains.

Grizzly bears, a federally protected subspecies of brown bears, are expanding in Montana, offering long-term population sustainability but also posing new challenges due to potential property damage and human injuries.

Grizzlies are notably larger than black bears, standing over eight feet tall on hind legs, weighing 400 to 500 pounds for males and 250 to 350 pounds for females, and capable of running up to 35 miles per hour.

Despite their imposing size, grizzly bear attacks are rare. In Yellowstone Park's history since 1872, only eight bear-related deaths have occurred, with the most recent in 2015, and 44 injuries from grizzly bears since 1979, despite over 118 million visitors to the park.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Grizzly bear euthanized near West Yellowstone, linked to multiple incidents - From NBC Montana