Current:Home > MarketsWatch Alaska Police chase, capture black bear cub in local grocery store -Nova Finance Academy
Watch Alaska Police chase, capture black bear cub in local grocery store
View
Date:2025-04-18 22:59:24
A grocery store in Petersburg, Alaska had an unexpected customer Tuesday, leaving store employees and other shoppers in shock.
A black bear cub was spotted roaming the produce aisle at the Petersburg's Trading Union IGA, scaring customers, Alaska News Source reported.
Alaska State Troopers, two wildlife troopers and units from the Petersburg Police Department were called to the scene, where officers chased the cub through the aisles of fruits and vegetables with a steel catch pole, video footage from the incident shows. After some struggle, authorities were able to corner and catch the young cub where the shopping carts are stored.
The black bear was escorted out and loaded into the back of a trooper vehicle, after a lot of fuss and protest.
Watch:Mama bear, cub raid Krispy Kreme delivery van in Alaska, scarf dozens of doughnuts
Cub euthanized
The bear cub unfortunately had to be euthanized, Justin Freeman, a public information officer with the Alaska State Troopers told USA TODAY.
Freeman said that the decision was made in coordination with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for a variety of reasons.
"The bear was small and emaciated for this time of year," explained Freeman. "It did not have any measure of fat that would have sustained it through the winter. It was also abandoned, for unknown reasons, and therefore did not have any way to significantly acquire resources to recover from its condition."
The spokesperson further said that the bear would not likely be able to handle the stress of transportation to a holding facility, and no known facilities had placement for a black bear.
Watch:Black bear takes casual stroll in Asheville, North Carolina, spooks tourists
Coexisting with bears in Alaska
There are an estimated 100,000 black bears in the state of Alaska, according to the Department of Fish and Game. Here's what the department recommends if you encounter a bear:
- Alert authorities by calling 911 if the wild animal poses an immediate threat or use a wildlife encounter form to report non-threatening situations.
- Make noise (yell, bang pans, etc.) to scare the bear.
- Make yourself appear as large as possible.
- Travel in groups and pick up small children.
- If you encounter a bear in your own yard, do not leave the house. Ensure everyone is secure inside before banging pots or making other loud noises to scare the bear away.
- If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (3371)
Related
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Tribes Working to Buck Unemployment with Green Jobs
- Illinois Passes Tougher Rules on Toxic Coal Ash Over Risks to Health and Rivers
- The Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Climate Change. Is it Ready to Decide Which Courts Have Jurisdiction?
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Education Secretary Miguel Cardona: Affirmative action ruling eliminates a valuable tool for universities
- Tribes Working to Buck Unemployment with Green Jobs
- Power Giant AEP Talks Up Clean Energy, but Coal Is Still King in Its Portfolio
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Spoil Your Dad With the Best Father's Day Gift Ideas Under $50 From Nordstrom Rack
Ranking
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Education Secretary Miguel Cardona: Affirmative action ruling eliminates a valuable tool for universities
- Huge Western Fires in 1910 Changed US Wildfire Policy. Will Today’s Conflagrations Do the Same?
- New York’s Giant Pension Fund Doubles Climate-Smart Investment
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- House Votes to Block Arctic Wildlife Refuge Drilling as Clock Ticks Toward First Oil, Gas Lease Sale
- Adding Batteries to Existing Rooftop Solar Could Qualify for 30 Percent Tax Credit
- Biden Signs Sweeping Orders to Tackle Climate Change and Rollback Trump’s Anti-Environment Legacy
Recommendation
Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
BP’s Selling Off Its Alaska Oil Assets. The Buyer Has a History of Safety Violations.
America's Most Wanted suspect in woman's 1984 killing returned to Florida after living for years as water board president in California
Tibetan Nomads Struggle as Grasslands Disappear from the Roof of the World
Travis Hunter, the 2
24-Hour Solar Energy: Molten Salt Makes It Possible, and Prices Are Falling Fast
A Kentucky Power Plant’s Demise Signals a Reckoning for Coal
Can Massachusetts Democrats Overcome the Power of Business Lobbyists and Pass Climate Legislation?