Town of Webb Tourism Director says people “did not respect” the mother bear and two cubs euthanized in Old Forge
OLD FORGE- A mother bear and her two cubs were euthanized over the weekend in the Western Adirondacks after a negative encounter with humans, authorities say.
Officials say the mother and two cubs were spotted in downtown Old Forge. While crossing Main Street, it’s reported that people nearby attempted interacting with them.
As a result, the bear began showing aggressive and protective behavior.
Unfortunately, officials say the DEC had to make the ultimate decision in euthanizing the mother bear and two cubs to maintain safety in the area.
With that said, Town of Webb Tourism Director, Mike Farmer, told us Tuesday morning that they had been in touch with the DEC numerous times throughout this incident, and yet due to such a vast territory of coverage, it took a significant amount of time for responding officers to arrive.
In the meantime, Farmer says a crowd of spectators invaded around the three bears as they tried navigating through town.
The three bears soon ended up climbing a tree near the public bathrooms and for a moment, the mother bear vacated the area briefly before returning to try and get her cubs away from the perceived threat around them.
By this time, Mr. Farmer said the mother bear began showing strong signs of severe agitation. Amidst fears that the bear could lash out and ultimately hurt someone, or worse, the DEC decided to choose and put the bears down.
All of this went on while local officials pleaded and tried to get the crowds of people away from the bears, but all efforts apparently failed. “The people did not respect the bears,” Farmer said, emphasizing that the crowds surrounding the bears apparently did not ease off and provide adequate escape routes.
He went on to say that this is a very “frustrating” outcome because Old Forge is plastered with bulletins and notices warning tourists and locals to avoid any interaction with wildlife. This includes feeding them.
Feeding deer continues to be a problem for Old Forge, as Farmer says the vast majority of Whitetails witnessed in the area tend to live close by and are used to human interaction.
Bears, however, tend to focus on berries and other sources of food for as long as possible before they typically start appearing in town towards late summer and fall, raiding through dumpsters and any other food sources they can find.
To clarify, it is illegal in New York State to intentionally feed Black Bears, according to the DEC.
Typically, nuisance bears are relocated, according to Farmer, but on the flip side, they have a tendency to come back, he claimed.
In July, 2022, a very similar scenario unfolded in Old Forge, where a mother and three cubs were put down after showing no hesitancy or signs of fear while they toured the area looking for food.
In the wake of this latest incident, local officials are stressing now more than ever for visitors and locals to avoid approaching any and all wildlife.
NYS DEC image.
