A very old and sick bear was euthanized this past weekend.
According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the “very old, malnourished and ill bear” was found on Saturday, Dec. 16 in the 7700 block of East Park View Drive.
In a tweet, AZGFD officials said “(The bear was) unlikely to have survived much longer, let alone through winter.”
Officials made the decision to euthanize the animal after determining the bear was at least 16 years old and suffering from malnourishment, blunted teeth, lesions and possible vision problems.
A few days earlier, a bear was spotted not too far away in the Bear Canyon, Tanque Verde area. The first sighting was made near Snyder and Soldier Trail Road on Tuesday, Dec. 12 around 3:30 p.m., while the most recent sighting was near Tanque Verde and Bear Canyon Road on Thursday around 9 a.m.
AZGFD said the bear appeared thin with a lighter patch of fur on its back. Officials have not yet confirmed if the bear euthanized Saturday is the same one from the earlier sightings.
For more information, please visit the official website of AZGFD.