Island Park Grizzly Bear Euthanized by Biologists

ISLAND PARK– A 25-year-old male grizzly bear was euthanized by biologists with the Idaho Department Fish and Game on Monday, Aug. 25. The bear had gotten into the habit of eating human-related food and breaking into local building in the area to get to it.

The bear had been previously captured as part of routine monitoring so its age and health status were know to officials.

“This bear started getting into trouble around buildings at the end of last season,” Regional Wildlife Manager Curtis Hendricks said in a press release. “Given that fact that some of his teeth were missing and the others were pretty worn down, which is typical for a bear of this age, continuation of this type of behavior could be expected.”

Officials said the bear had made no direct threats to humans, but its want for human foods and decreasing ability to forage increased the chance for conflict with humans and forced the park to take quick action.