Colorado wildlife officials say a three-legged black bear that has been hanging around Golden for the last several weeks was euthanized Sunday because of worries about her health.
“She was hanging around the west side of town for about two weeks,” Jennifer Churchill, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said Thursday. “She was hitting some bee hives and not moving on.”
Churchill said wildlife officers believed the bear — estimated to be about 6 years old — was actually moving further east. Because she only had three legs, Churchill said, there were worries about her ability to find food with the current food shortage.
CPW officers tried to capture the bear and relocate it but were unsuccessful. Eventually, they decided to put her down.
“They were just really worried (capturing her) would be delaying the inevitable,” Churchill said.
Golden police posted photos of the bear on Facebook Wednesday afternoon. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says it has been watching over her over the last few weeks to ensure her safety.
The sheriff’s office said the bear had “absolutely no problems getting around.”
Authorities are not sure how the bear lost part of her right leg, which was missing below her knee.
Bear sightings and chases as of late as the bruins try to survive a food shortage in the foothills.
A man shot and seriously wounded a bear in Colorado Springs on Thursday morning after it was spotted rummaging through trash, CPW later put that bear down.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
