The baby black bear (pictured) was put down after people fed it and took selfies with it. Photo / Washington County Sheriff's Office
The baby black bear (pictured) was put down after people fed it and took selfies with it. Photo / Washington County Sheriff's Office
A baby black bear was shot and killed by wildlife officials after the animal became too used to humans taking selfies with him.
Authorities received numerous calls about the same young male bear and saw social media posts of the public posing with the wild animal.
Washington County Sheriff's Officeand the Oregon Department of Fish started getting calls from around June 4 about the bear at the popular Scoggins Valley Park near Henry Hagg Lake.
During 32C heat many members of the public had given or left food for the bear and he was constantly seen eating leftovers.
On Tuesday evening deputies received two calls about the 45kg bear after large crowds were drawn to the area for boating.
The baby black bear (pictured) was put down after people fed it and took selfies with it. Photo / Washington County Sheriff's Office
Authorities posted a tweet warning the public to stay away from the animal and the area in general along with pictures of the bear.
Deputies are working to get this bear cub near Hagg Lake to go back into the woods... please stay away from the area near Boat Ramp A. pic.twitter.com/tI8m5yTbyk
— Washington County Sheriff’s Office (@WCSOOregon) June 13, 2019
Wildlife biologists Kurt License and Doug Kitchen tried to trap and relocate the bear but he was found eating trail mix, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn.
Several piles of food were left out in the road for the bear and he reportedly did not run away when wildlife officials approached.
License told OregonLive: "This is a classic example of why we implore members of the public not to feed bears.
'While the individuals who put food out for this bear may have had good intentions bears should never, ever be fed.
"It was very clear that the animal was way too habituated. With that information, it was a human health and safety risk, and we had to remove it."
On another occasion the bear was seen near the boat ramp and deputies were able to get the animal to go back into the woods.
The bear was constantly seen eating food left out by members of the public Photo / Washington County Sheriff's Office
But as he did not attempt to run away when License and Kitchen moved towards him indicated he had become too used to human interactions and posed a danger to anyone who could come into contact with him in the future.
Rick Swart of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said if the bear had not been habituated to humans the animal could have been relocated, as others have been in the past.
But a habituated bear is unlikely to stay away from humans, making the risk of leaving him to encounter members of the public too great a risk.
Deputy Brian van Kleef of the Washington County Sheriff's office said: "We're sad it ended this way.
Wildlife officials said the animal could not be relocated as he had become too use to human contact and did not run away when approached. Photo / Washington County Sheriff's Office
"Obviously no one wants to see a bear get killed, especially its many human fans. But I think it was the human interaction that ultimately led to its tragic end."
Oregon has only seen three black bear attacks since 2000, but attacks elsewhere in the country have seen officials act cautiously.
Every year wildlife management said officials have to euthanise multiple bears that have become too comfortable with humans.
In 2007 seven black bears had to be put down in Oregon and residents in the district killed 30 bears under a law that allows homeowners to shoot the animals if they become a nuisance on their property.
