WETUMPKA, Ala. (WSFA) – A young bear has been put down after being struck by a vehicle in Elmore County, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater, confirmed to WSFA 12 News.
Spokeswoman Marianne Gauldin said the yearling male, a bear in its second summer, was hit by a car on Highway 14 near Bumpers gas station in Wetumpka on Sunday.
Gauldin said a game warden was dispatched to the area around 2:30 p.m. on reports of an injured bear. She said the injured wild animal had moved off the road and into a yard, then made it to a nearby wood line.
Authorities found the animal “laying down and staying down” about 10 feet further into the woods.
“It had extensive physical injuries that were not survivable and would have proven fatal in a short period of time,” Gauldin said. “After evaluating its condition, our Officer appropriately dispatched the bear to hasten its pending death without suffering.”
The bear was removed and buried with help from the Elmore County sheriff’s office.
Gauldin says this is the time of year when juvenile male bears are on the move statewide. She noted that, while they’re not yet full grown or old enough to hold their own territory, the bears are too old to stay with their mother.
“It’s very common to see black bears in areas of Alabama where you haven’t typically seen them,” said Marianne Gauldin.
“So, there are black bear populations in certain pockets of Alabama but in June, July, and even into August, juvenile male black bears that don’t have their own specific territory are wandering statewide between those populations.”
“They cover large distances wandering and foraging,” she said.
Gauldin reminded residents that bears are a natural part of Alabama’s wildlife landscape and urged anyone who makes a sighting to report it so Wildlife and Fisheries can enter it into their database.
She also urged residents never to approach a bear or attempt to feed one.
“If you see a bear on your property, remove attractants such as trash cans/outdoor pet food/deer feeders/bird feeders for at least 2 weeks so that the bear does not become acclimated to free meals,” she explained.
“Never approach a bear, and make sure it sees you: wave your arms, clap, holler, and allow the bear to move away from you via an easy escape route,” she added. “Do not corner a bear or run from it. A black bear that’s behaving normally will spook away from people.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to clarify the incident happened Sunday, not Monday.
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