The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it had to humanly euthanize a well-known bear after he was found with two broken legs and paralyzed due to a spinal injury. Large Carnivore Program manager for LDWF Maria Davidson said Bruno the Bear was put down in Morehouse Parish.
“We believe that the injuries are consistent with a vehicle collision. Based on the severity of the trauma that’s about all that could cause those types of injuries,” said Davidson.
The adult male bear weighed 240 pounds. It was determined the injuries had occurred about a month prior and the bear’s health was rapidly declining.
“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 Davison. “Unfortunately, this bear had injuries that would have been survivable and the decision was made to humanely put it down.”
Bruno was the adult male black bear that garnered notoriety last year when he wandered through several Midwestern states and was captured in Missouri. He was relocated to Arkansas and eventually wandered his way towards Louisiana. Morehouse Parish is on the Arkansas-Louisiana line.
A homeowner in Morehouse Parish said Bruno appeared on their property and wouldn’t leave. Upon inspection, Davidson said biologists found the bear was in distress with catastrophic injuries and wouldn’t be unable to survive in the wild.
Davidson said they don’t know exactly how he was injured, but usually, when someone hits a bear with their vehicle LDWF is contacted immediately.
“More often than not we have the bear reported to us by either the driver or the law enforcement agency that responds to the scene,” said Davidson.
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