A bear cub that wandered into busy north Canby on Saturday was shot and killed after officers tracked it to a tree on private property and decided it posed a danger to people nearby, city officials said. The young bear was first spotted near a Burgerville and quickly drew a crowd just blocks from the Clackamas County fairgrounds and the Canby Saturday Market. Authorities said the cub eventually began moving down from its perch and heading toward people before officers intervened.
According to KGW, Canby Police, Oregon State Police and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office responded to multiple calls about the bear and followed it to a tree at North Third Street and Locust Street, on private property. With a crowd gathered below and the cub beginning to climb down, the agencies determined it posed an immediate risk to public health and safety and stopped the animal with lethal force.
Officials Call Shooting An "Unfortunate Circumstance"
Mayor Brian Hodson described the outcome as an "unfortunate circumstance," according to KGW. He and other city leaders said the call to use lethal force came only after officers concluded the cub's behavior created a direct threat to the people gathered nearby.
Wildlife Officials Contacted, Nonlethal Options Ruled Out
Oregon State Police asked the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for assistance, and deputies from Clackamas County supported Canby officers at the scene. Officials said options such as tranquilizing the cub were not realistic because of the size of the crowd and the urgency of the situation as the animal moved toward onlookers.
What Canby Residents Are Being Asked To Do
Police urged residents to steer clear of the area while the scene was being processed and to report any additional bear sightings to local authorities. City officials said they plan to release more information as it becomes available.
