Bear Captured In Newton, Put Down

NEWTON, MA — The young black bear that was the talk of the town this week in Newton had to bee put down, according to officials.

"I’m very sorry to have to share that the bear sadly had to be euthanized yesterday," said Taraneh Pettinato, a spokeswoman for Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in an email to Patch.

She said it looked like a car might have hit the bear causing damage so bad, it wouldn't be possible to help the bear.

“A comprehensive physical exam, including radiographs, revealed multiple fractures as well as other wounds, which veterinarians suspect could have been caused by a motor vehicle collision. In consultation with [state wildlife officials], it was determined that rehabilitation would not be possible, so the difficult decision was made to euthanize the bear,” according to a statement from the clinic Pettianto sent.

Tuesday a bear was spotted in a tree along the Green Line tracks in a wooded area near 1320 Centre St. Then two days later a very similar looking black bear was spotted near Rt. 9, tranquilized and then taken to Tufts Wildlife Clinic.

Area wildlife experts are pretty sure the black bear is the same one spotted Tuesday.

Patch has reached out to Tufts Wildlife Clinic officials

I’ve included a statement below from Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University. The Clinic is actually only involved in the treatment of wildlife, not finding, capturing and transporting injured animals. If you are still interested in information regarding how often bears are found in the area, I’m can loop in my PR contacts at Massachusetts Environmental Police and MassWildlife. Just let me know.

The black bear in reference was brought to Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, by Massachusetts Environmental Police. A comprehensive physical exam, including radiographs, revealed multiple fractures as well as other wounds, which veterinarians suspect could have been caused by a motor vehicle collision. In consultation with MassWildlife officials, it was determined that rehabilitation would not be possible, so the difficult decision was made to euthanize the bear.

This isn't the first time Newton Police have had to call in the Environmental Police about a bear.

In 2012 a bear wandered all the way from Cape Cod to the Chestnut Hill area. It was eventually tranquilized and hauled away. In 2013, a bear State environmental police shot and killed a bear in a tree over the Mass Pike in Newton after they said they couldn't tranquilize it. Then in 2015 a bear hung out in Newton for a while before it was hit by a car on I-95/ 128.

Black bears are generally shy and are attracted to bird seed in yard, trash and urban chicken coops and beehives. Check out tips for keeping bears away from you and for what to do if you do see a black bear around these parts>> Tips For Residents Not Interested In Seeing A Bear.

Read these stories, too. >> Newton Bear Captured, Relocated

Bear Up A Tree In Newton: Tips For Residents

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Photos courtesy MA Environmental Police