Don't Feed the Bears! It Gets Them Killed

Wildlife officials say they had to kill a young black bear that had become a safety problem after being hand-fed by visitors to a northeastern Pennsylvania park.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says its officers euthanized the 75-pound animal on Saturday at Merli-Sarnoski Park in Carbondale.

Northeast regional office director Steve Schweitzer says the bear had to be destroyed because it was approaching humans for food. He says the animal had lost its fear of humans because it had become accustomed to people feeding it.

Schweitzer says the commission had received pictures of the bear being hand-fed, including one of the bear standing on a picnic table where park visitors were sitting.

Schweitzer says the bear was put down after efforts to trap and remove it were unsuccessful.