LOGAN, Utah (KUTV) — A bear captured on video this weekend in Cache Valley near Nibley — the latest in a string of Utah bear sightings — has been euthanized by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
A DWR spokesperson confirmed it with 2News Sunday evening.
Kali Poulsen took images of the bear from her home on Saturday, showing it running through a field. In brief frames, a Logan Police officer is seen running after the bear as the animal sprinted away.
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Crystal Ross, conservation outreach manager for the DWR’s northern region, said the bear was likely the same one spotted in Paradise on Thursday and in Logan on Friday.
“Bears that have lost their fear of people and spend multiple days roaming residential areas can become aggressive and dangerous, posing a risk to human safety,” said Ross, while acknowledging that to the DWR’s knowledge, “it had not caused any damage or injured any people.”
Ross said the bear was first tranquilized, as was another bear last week in Provo after it came into a neighborhood beneath Y Mountain.
The Cache Valley bear was also said to be overheated.
“When they tranquilized it, they determined it was two years old,” Ross said. “Its temperature was dangerously high, around 107 degrees.”
Poulsen said she saw officers pour buckets of water on the bear, but eventually DWR euthanized the animal.
“Euthanizing wildlife is the worst part of our jobs,” said Ross. “Our staff got into the wildlife profession because they love wildlife and want to help it and see it thrive.”
In Utah County last week, besides the bear in Provo, there were sightings in Payson and Springville.
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