Famous falling bear tranquilized on Colorado campus is killed by cars days later

Andy Duann

A bear that wandered into the University of Colorado Boulder, Colo., dorm complex Williams Village falls from a tree after being tranquilized by Colorado wildlife officials, April 26.

Authorities say a bear made famous by a photo that captured the animal falling from a tree at the University of Colorado has been hit and killed by two cars.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say the black bear was struck on U.S. 36 around dawn Thursday by one car and then another.


Parks spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill told msnbc.com that officials identified the bear as the same one whose photograph went viral by checking an ear tag that was placed on him after last week's tree incident.

PhotoBlog: Tranquilized bear falls from tree at University of Colorado

Images of the 3-year old, 280-pound male bear, its arms and legs splayed as it fell April 26, were widely viewed in newspapers, on news websites, and passed around social networks.

The animal was later relocated to a wilderness area about 50 miles west of Boulder.

According to the Daily Camera, a 1992 Toyota Camry hit the bear first, followed by a 2002 Ford Focus. Police say one driver had minor injuries after hitting the bear.

Churchill said the bear will be buried or disposed of in the manner roadkill is usually handled.

"I'm not sure what condition the body was in," she added.

Churchill said relocating bears is a difficult proposition, as the animals often return to the areas they used to inhabit. "Animals have home ranges and if they find habitat and they're finding food, even in town, and they feel safe there, they'll stay there," she said.

"We need [citizens] to give these bears a chance by not attracting them to town with trash and bird feeders and other food sources."

Churchill said it's not uncommon for bears to be killed by cars in Colorado.

"It's very disheartening when we have to see animals die this way," she said. "I hope it's a teaching moment for people because we really owe it to wildlife to do the right thing if we're going to live near them."

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what do you call a bear with a Cadillac emblem in its mouth?.....bling bling

    Reply#54 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:01 PM EDT

    Maybe he was still feeling the effects of the tranquilizer and couldn't get out of the way of the cars. Sad.

      Reply#55 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:03 PM EDT

      WHAT DID ONE COFFIN SAY TO THE OTHER COFFIN,when he had a cold? is that u coughin----------coffin

        Reply#56 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:06 PM EDT

        too many people on the planet, period.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#57 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:06 PM EDT

        why don't the drivers watch the road and AVOID a collision with animals. too busy texting, on the phone?? i your eyes are scanning the road and the shoulder of the road you would NEVER hit a bear and almost never hit a deer either.

          Reply#58 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:17 PM EDT

          We should learn a valuable lesson from the Simpson's. Pay a hefty tax increase for the formation of an anti-bear patrol.

          • 1 vote
          Reply#59 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:18 PM EDT

          Isn't that Obama after the election?

            Reply#60 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:21 PM EDT

            A bear walks into a bar and sits down. he calls the bartender over and says
            “I'd like a gin … … … … … … … and tonic.”

            The bartender says “okay, but why the big pause?”

            The bear looks down and says ….“I dunno, I've always had them.”

            • 2 votes
            Reply#61 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:30 PM EDT

            The fact is you guys who believe there is enough space for humans and animals are correct. Right now we are fine. It will also be fine when we leave this planet, but our grand children might not be able to say that. The fact is we humans are the leading predators on the planet and when there are more predators then prey the predators start to die out. We are fine now, but remember we need food and resources just for the basics in life and if we kill off other creatures, we will run out eventually. I'm not a nature freak or anything, but be realistic here. Remember our survival isn't a step ladder but a circle eventually we might cut out something we need.

              Reply#62 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:36 PM EDT

              If only he'd stayed in school and not cut class that day none of this would have happened...we need to get Congress involved there should be a law that bears can not go to college in the first place...

              • 1 vote
              Reply#63 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:37 PM EDT

              "Churchill said the bear will be buried or disposed of in the manner roadkill is usually handled."

              Wonder how fast it was turned over to a rendering plant? To be added to pet food later.


                Reply#64 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:42 PM EDT

                Wonder how fast it was turned over to a rendering plant? To be added to pet food later.

                You have a problem with this?

                  #64.1 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:44 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  I bet the bear was texting.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#65 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:44 PM EDT

                  asian drivers...

                    Reply#66 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:52 PM EDT

                    We should ban all cars from Colorado and while we are at it rip out all the train tracks and highways that cross the Dakotas and Nebraska so we can bring back the Buffalo to what it use to be. Everyone in Omaha has to leave now. Got to make room for when they come through once a year. Oh and everyone in Montana and Idaho leave so there is no conflicts with wolves. Everyone out of Florida so there are no conflicts with alligators. All of you go back to Cuba. Look out New York, we are all movng there! What! there use to be wolves and bears there too? Geez, it is going to get awful crowded in Europe. Or Asia, or Africa. A quarter of me is Cherokee, any chance I can stay?

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#67 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:53 PM EDT

                    I would be interested in knowing if the receding affect of the tranquilizers they used could have caused misjudgement, confusion or loss of equilibrium in the bear. It's safe to assume that there was no autopsy on the corpse as (with few exceptions) only we humans are subjected to them after an "Unnatural death".

                      Reply#68 - Fri May 4, 2012 2:55 PM EDT

                      Why? I hope that you people don't actually have and believe the majority of opinions on this thread.

                        #68.1 - Fri May 4, 2012 5:21 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        Here in wonderful polically correct Minnesota the cops just killed another bear for no serious reason. The bear was in an area where there a plenty of two legged animals that should be disposed of. Feed Obamastein to the bears along with his Wall Street friends.

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#69 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:03 PM EDT

                        Hey Willhelm! You sure that wasn't a Jewish bear they killed? Maybe that would make you feel better about it!

                          #69.1 - Mon May 7, 2012 4:16 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          If you don't want bears around your neighborhood then stop building your homes where they live. WE are the problem NOT the bears.

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#70 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:04 PM EDT

                          Bear hit by two cars???!!!!!!! the first car the drive was send a text message to the second car!!!!!!!!!

                          Which makes them blind in one eye and cannot see out of the other!!!!!!!!

                            Reply#71 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:04 PM EDT

                            ""We need [citizens] to give these bears a chance by not attracting them to town with trash and bird feeders and other food sources."

                            Really? So should people stop collecting trash?!?!!

                              Reply#72 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:07 PM EDT

                              IReadYou, it seems you don't really know much about Baptists except a few of those good people who like to help out in Third World countries. The Baptists here in my town help build houses for Habitat For Humanity, Serve food that the local soup kitchen, build additions and handicapped ramps for people, they donate clothing, lawn services, help people move, go in shifts to the hospital to sit with sick folks, are immediately on the road after a tornado to help those who are hurting. These people have been through a lot of adversity themselves and, often, neglect their damaged homes to help others who are worse off. We,ve had 3 quite severe tornadoes in the last 9 years and everyone pulls together, the Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Catholic, Menanites, you name them. There are out there helping. Sure, they go overseas when they can go. It's called Foreign Missions. If one is a Southern Bapatist, they believe in helping anywhere in the world. It's called "Loving thy neighbor as thyself, and our neighbor is everyone. But, I really don't know what Baptists have to do with the subject of bears.

                              We don't have bears in this area. They are all in the Eastern part of the state. Bears wander into people area looking for easy food. It doesn't matter how much food is out there where they live. When they can get it the easy way by raiding picnic grounds and garbage cans, they will.

                              • 1 vote
                              Reply#73 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:11 PM EDT

                              Sad.

                                Reply#74 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:13 PM EDT

                                poor bear...no bird feeders etc. How about stop taking so much of the bears land for strip malls or parking lots?

                                  Reply#75 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:23 PM EDT

                                  Take this picture down.

                                    Reply#76 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:41 PM EDT

                                    I remember seeing this picture a few days ago and marveled at the composition. How very sad to read this poor thing is now dead.

                                      Reply#77 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:42 PM EDT

                                      "I'm not sure what condition the body was in," she added.

                                      sounds like its gonna be a closed casket funeral. what a shame lol

                                      • 1 vote
                                      Reply#78 - Fri May 4, 2012 3:58 PM EDT
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