Young bear killed after entering garage, Idaho officials say

A young black bear was killed after it broke into a garage looking for food, Idaho wildlife officials said.

But the animal’s death was an “avoidable situation,” Idaho Fish and Game said in a Monday news release. 

The 100-pound male yearling was killed Nov. 14 north of Hailey, wildlife officials said. 

It had gotten into unsecured garbage many times and broken into a resident’s garage twice, officials said. The bear also tried to get into a home.

The animal had become aggressive and food-conditioned, officials said. 

“Our hands were tied in terms of the options we had to respond, because the bear had become food-conditioned leading it to become a public safety issue,” Regional Wildlife Manager Mike McDonald said in the release. 

That’s why it’s up to residents to secure their garbage and other attractants, especially as the animals try to pack in as many calories as they can for winter, officials said. 

Once a bear finds a food source, the animal will keep returning and may become aggressive to “protect what they sense is their food source,” officials said. 

At that point, wildlife officials said they have to kill the animal because relocating it is not effective. 

“Experience has shown that the bear will either return to the same location where it was finding food, or moving the bear just gives a known food-conditioned bear to another community or area,” officials said in the release. 

Residents should keep garbage in a garage or a locked shed, officials said. Bird feeders should also be removed in the spring and not put up until there’s snowfall. And any fallen fruit from trees should be thrown away. 

Officials said they have relocated two bears from residential areas in Wood River Valley this year. One cub was also taken to a rehabilitation center.