Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife euthanized the Monrovia mama bear after testing showed she was responsible for two attacks on people.
DNA testing showed the mother bear not only swiped at a woman's leg over the weekend but also showed the same bear that injured an elderly man sitting on his porch in June, according to Cort Klopping, a spokesperson for Fish and Wildlife.
“Basically, that means that it would not be safe to release the bear back into the wild because there's a high likelihood of more attacks occurring, since there are multiple instances of attacks by this bear,” he explained to KNX News’ Emily Valdez.
The two cubs are being raised in a wildlife sanctuary with little human interaction and will eventually be released into the wild.
The homeowner previously told KNX News' Emily Valdez that the mama bear and her cubs had been living under his home since January, but they didn't bother him even when he was gardening in his backyard. He added that he did not want her euthanized.
Fish and Wildlife is urging people who find bears in their neighborhoods to immediately call them so the bear can be relocated before it becomes accustomed to living around people.
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