Black bear euthanized in Spanish Fork

SPANISH FORK — A black bear that lumbered up and down the Spanish Fork river and through back yards for the past several days has been euthanized.

The Division of Wildlife Resources shot a 70- to 100-pound sub-adult black bear Thursday at about 5 p.m. after deciding it had become too comfortable with humans.

"When they lose that fear they become more bold," said Shawn Bagley, DWR conservation officer. "And at that point, (you can) have a potentially bad confrontation. When they're not showing the normal fear a bear should of humans, then we're concerned."

The bear was first spotted Tuesday, and calls about sightings continued Wednesday and Thursday.

"It was traveling on the (Spanish Fork) river corridor, then it crossed over and went to the east side of I-15, which transfers from agrarian cornfields into a residential area," Bagley said.

The bear stayed close to the river parkway, nibbling on anything he could find. Black bears are omnivores, eating meat as well as vegetables and fruit.

Wednesday night, the bear was spotted on the east parkway by a couple walking along the river.

The couple called police, and Bagley said officers and hounds responded, but at night near the river all they found were cats and raccoons.

Traps weren't effective either, because the animal kept moving, Bagley said.

Spanish Fork police notified residents that the bear was roaming in a five-square-mile area that included Riverview Elementary School.

"Officers contacted a local school principal notifying her of the bear," said Spanish Fork Police Lt. Steve Adams. "School officials notified the students and families in the area of the bear. During this same time officers continued to patrol the area for the bear, giving special attention to those areas traveled to and from school by the students."

The bear never approached a person but was seen romping through back yards and in areas near to people.

Bagley dispelled rumors that there are other bears in the neighborhood and said this bear likely was a solitary animal that came from Spanish Fork Canyon.

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