An adult male black bear with severe injuries was humanely euthanized in Morehouse Parish on 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.
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.
LDWF 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.
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!
- If a bear is in a tree in your yard, leave it alone. Remove people and dogs and allow the bear to come down on its own;
- If you are attacked, fight back aggressively with anything available;
- Do not play dead!
LDWF also strives in all human-bear conflicts to educate the public about removing all the attractants that have caused bears to stray into human populated areas. Here are some practices that will limit human-bear conflicts:
- 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.
For more information on how to prevent human/bear conflicts, visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/louisiana-bear-wise and www.bearwise.org
To report a problem with a bear call your local LDWF Field office, or after hours call 1-800-442-2511.
