An adult male black bear with severe injuries was humanely euthanized in Morehouse Parish last week (Tuesday, June 29) by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The bear had two broken legs and was paralyzed due to a spinal injury, apparently from being struck by a vehicle according to witnesses.
The bear, known on social media as Bruno, gained notoriety in 2020 when it wandered through several Midwestern states, including Missouri and Illinois. It was captured in Missouri near Interstate 70 and relocated last summer. The bear is shown in the photo to the right.
Bears are becoming more and more a part of the landscape in northeast Louisiana and roam almost every area in search of food and habitat following aggressive restocking efforts. In many areas, they are becoming overpopulated for the limited habitat here and are a nuisance to hunters and now, residents as well.
According to the LDWF, they received a call Tuesday from a homeowner in Morehouse Parish about the bear, which appeared on the owner’s property and wouldn’t leave. LDWF biologists responded and, upon close inspection, discovered the bear was in distress with the catastrophic injuries. It was decided to humanely euthanize the animal.
“If there is any way possible a bear can survive an injury, we assist by relocating the animal to a secluded area to give it a chance at survival’’ said LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager Maria Davidson. “Unfortunately, this bear had injuries that would not have been survivable and the decision was made to humanely put it down.’’
The adult male bear weighed 240 pounds. It was determined the injuries had occurred approximately a month prior and the bear’s health was rapidly declining. LDWF reminds the public what to do when you encounter a bear:
- Never approach a bear;
- Stay inside your home or vehicle;
- Shout and wave your arms to scare off the bear;
- If outdoors, remain calm and back slowly to the safety of your home or vehicle;
- Do not run!
- Also:
- Never feed bears.
- Secure food, garbage and recycling.
- Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
- Never leave pet food outdoors.
- Clean and store grills.
- Let your neighbors know if you see bears in your area.
