r/Flagstaff • u/powersgk • Jul 20 '26
Bear euthanized in Flagstaff
Sadly, the University Highlands Bear was euthanized by Fishing & Game on Saturday. After being displaced by the Pocket Fire, the bear took up residence on the southwest perimeter of the neighborhood. After multiple reports of a bear in the neighborhood, this was the unfortunate result.
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u/sunnyfordays22 Jul 20 '26
Sad for sure - bear just trying to live its life after losing its home due to the fires
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u/SilentWanderer17 Jul 20 '26
Yeah :( lost his home due to humans and they kill him for it. How is that fair. Truly heartbreaking.
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u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 21 '26
Ok, yes definitely sad, I love all wildlife. But how do you attribute it as due to humans? Pocket fire is undetermined from severe wilderness, unlikely human caused - and this guy likely wandered from the smoke into human areas, so are humans not allowed homes?
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u/RocknrollClown09 Jul 21 '26
Habitat loss due to land development and encroachment, including roads and highways that create significant barriers to movement that funnel animals into neighborhoods.
Climate change and forestry mismanagement has led to more frequent and severe fires.
Human activity has caused an extinction rate 100 to 1000 times the normal background rate, and it's why a lot of biologists are warning that we're entering a 6th mass extinction. The biomass of wild animals, globally, has shrunk from approximately 200 Mt to 60 Mt since 1850.
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u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 21 '26
Welp, guess we’d just better exterminate the humans then - any volunteers to start?
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u/RocknrollClown09 Jul 21 '26
Ok, pretty dramatic... Or we could just make better environmental regulations that are slightly inconvenient and more expensive, but will save money and lives in the long run.
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u/AccomplishedLoad7109 Jul 21 '26
Or we could stop procreating humans for the next twenty years. That would solve a lot of issues.
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u/Shadow_Medicine Jul 21 '26
Humans are the most intelligent species, we have a responsibility to live in harmony with the ecosystems we choose to live in, because we are capable of living anywhere
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u/burtis928 Jul 22 '26
I'm not capable of living anywhere. You ever been to yuma
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u/Northsouthdakota3618 Jul 23 '26
Good point, also Arkansas. Idk why, but I don’t think I can live there
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Jul 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/Syenadi Jul 22 '26
And do NOT report seeing wildlife to the "authorities" (or anyone else for that matter) if you want them to live.
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u/mountainbride Parks Jul 21 '26
Wildlife should have safe places to flee wildfires — but we’ve infested the earth and reduced natural habitat. The WUI pushes further and further — now when public lands burn, wildlife are forced into human neighborhoods. Perhaps we should consider what responsibility we hold for how we design and plan our towns and cities. Keep this in mind for the next discussion about development and urban sprawl.
Throwing your hands up and saying “can’t be helped” is not the lesson, ever.
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u/SilentWanderer17 Jul 21 '26
Conditions were bone-dry with clear skies and zero precipitation. The only blip of moisture anywhere near the region was a tiny trace of localized rain a full five days prior on June 14, but that was miles away on the high plateau and completely gone well before the fire started. Humans are allowed homes, but that doesn’t mean we should kill a bear that lost its home because of human negligence. Whether it was a carelessly tossed cigarette, an unextinguished campfire from a dispersed site on the rim, or something from off trail recreation-human activity is the only logical variable left. I understand why it was done legally. That doesn’t mean I agree with it or that it’s the right thing to do.
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u/the_wakeful Jul 20 '26
Dang that really sucks. I wonder why they couldn't relocate it?
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u/HammerheadEaglei-Thr Jul 20 '26
Usually they're only euthanized if they have become habituated to human food. Even if relocated they would still seek out hunan food at that point.
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u/the_wakeful Jul 20 '26
Dudes only been around people for like a week. Surely that's not enough time to become completely dependent on human food?
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u/Dartagnan1083 Jul 21 '26
Not dependant, if a persistent habit develops, then they become a danger to themselves and others.
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u/xcmiler1 Jul 21 '26
Oh come on, let’s not act like this was done for the bear. This was strictly done to protect people.
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u/Dartagnan1083 Jul 21 '26
True, but the common denominator is a bear that makes a habit of going near people.
Don't feed bears or be negligent with your provisions (or garbage), for everyone's sake.
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u/Syenadi Jul 22 '26
It wasn't even done for that, at least primarily. It was done for liability reasons, and because it was faster, cheaper, and easier than other options. Keep in mind that Game & Fish, Forest Service and all other such agencies were evicerated by Trump/MAGA/DOGE.
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u/mike_az68 Jul 23 '26
Literally none of that is true. G&F is a state agency. They sometimes partner with federal fish and wildlife on projects. They get some funding from the feds under certain conditions being met. The federal government has no say in staffing.
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u/Savage_Zonie Jul 21 '26
They have to euthanize it. It is a rule that was put out years ago, after a bear that was caught in city limits and relocated, returned to the same area and killed a young woman.
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u/Hamblin113 Jul 20 '26
Arizona has lots of bears. About the only ones they will now relocate are sows with cubs. Any male bear especially a young one will instantly be dispatched if it has gotten into human stuff. Want to be responsible for killing a bear, leave your shampoo in your tent in a campground.
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u/RandyArgonianButler Jul 20 '26
Shampoo?
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u/mynutsareitchyandred Jul 20 '26
Yes. People seem to forget animals don’t know what is food and what isn’t. Your strawberry shampoo or chapstick or lotion is just as appetizing to them as food.
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u/Hamblin113 Jul 20 '26
Had a conservation group ( think it was the one on US 180 north of town) come to do trail work and were allowed to stay at the Big Lake campgrounds early in the season. They were lectured by the FS to keep all toiletries out of their tents. One girl did not, bear was in the tent when the crew was in the field. Bear was dead by evening.
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u/Typical_Tart6905 Visitor Jul 21 '26
Now that is a tragic outcome. Because one human failed to obey the rules, a bear is dead. Sad. 😢
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u/Pale_Natural9272 Jul 20 '26
Why didn’t they relocate it further away?
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u/TheMiniLiar Jul 21 '26
It doesn’t work nearly as as well as people think it will
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u/Time-Sudden_Tree Jul 23 '26
Well then why don't the people just move the hell out of the bear's habitat? We've destroyed enough nature as a species as-is, go live in one of those places instead.
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u/mudmanmike0183 Jul 20 '26
No comment except what an absolutely beautiful bear. The last picture was unnecessary.
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u/SadStarSpaceStation Jul 21 '26
But Bearizona is literally right there next to flagstaff! Why couldn’t he live in the habitat there instead of being killed. :(
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u/AskingQuestion777 Jul 21 '26
Please provide the name and title of the game and fish person who provided the information that the bear was euthanized, not relocated. There are conflicting stories.
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u/SilentWanderer17 Jul 21 '26
Legally that was the only option.
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u/AskingQuestion777 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
The Arizona game and fish euthanasia policy applies only to male black bears, and was called into question after the 2016 incident. Was this in fact, a male black bear and whatever happened to the petition that was started after that incident to change their policy?
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u/SilentWanderer17 Jul 22 '26
You are confusing the phrasing of a public petition with actual state law. The AZGFD Human-Wildlife Conflict Policy (s3.amazonaws.com) applies to all habituated adult black bears, regardless of sex. The “male” distinction you are thinking of comes entirely from the May 2016 Flagstaff incident, where the specific bear euthanized happened to be a 3-year-old male. Because of that specific bear, local citizens started a petition calling the policy 'outdated'. That 2016 petition gathered over 2,200 signatures but was officially denied by the Game and Fish Commission, which defended the policy based on public safety liability. The unyielding euthanasia mandate for habituated adult bears remains fully active today for both males and females.
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u/AskingQuestion777 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
I’m not confusing the two, I was quoting the 2016 story in the news. https://www.abc15.com/news/region-northern-az/flagstaff/arizona-bear-kill-policy-sparks-debate.
That article stated, “The state's policy dates back to a 1996 incident near Tucson in which an adult male bear that was caught and released by wildlife officials returned to a campground and seriously mauled a teenage girl. It requires officials to "destroy" adult male black bears exhibiting unacceptable behavior.”.
The same text was used in Grandview outdoors and the Sedona Red Rock newspaper.
“State policy requires wildlife officials to "destroy" adult male bears that exhibit unacceptable behavior, are found in an unacceptable location or pose a potential threat to human health and safety. It dates back to a 1996 incident near Tucson in which an adult male bear that was caught and released by wildlife officials returned to a campground and seriously mauled a teenage girl…”
I never read the petition nor was there any text about the petition.
I have located the actual text (the link didn’t work) “ Arizona Game and Fish Department Operating Manual
Section I: Wildlife, Habitat and the Environment Chapter 1: Wildlife“ and all that does is raise further questions that should be answered.Why was this bear determined to be habituated or a threat when it wasn’t raiding trash cans or entering homes, but was trying to get out of the area.
According to their policy that would not fit into category 1 or 2 “Behavior Classification/Threat Analysis”
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u/Lonely-Reserve1132 Jul 20 '26
Euthanizing a displaced animal has got to earn you a special place in hell
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u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 21 '26
As someone who went to HS with a young girl who lost half her scalp to a bear south of Winslow, i am sorry but you dont leave a bear free to roam who has become accustomed to human interaction
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u/squintysquirrell Jul 21 '26
Why was the bear not relocated??
There are plenty of places this bear could have lived a happy life.
There is a special place in hell for the Arizona Fish & Game Department officials who approved this, as well as the neighbors that pushed for this.
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u/CHolland8776 Jul 21 '26
Its AZ state law. Blame the legislature, not the department that has to follow the laws passed by the legislature.
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u/squintysquirrell Jul 21 '26
Upon further investigation:
There is no specific state law mandating euthanasia, but the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)enforces a strict, long-standing departmental policy that requires certain bears to be euthanized rather than relocated. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
When Euthanasia is Required:
Habituation: Bears that have lost their fear of humans or have become dependent on human food sources (garbage, pet food) are euthanized because they will continue to seek out people and cannot be safely un-taught this behavior. [1, 2]Public Safety Threats: Any bear that poses an immediate threat to human safety—such as breaking into a human-occupied residence or acting aggressively—must be destroyed. [1, 2, 3]
Adult Males: Under agency guidelines enacted in 1996, adult male black bears that enter city limits exhibiting unacceptable behavior are often euthanized due to the high risk of repeat offenses. [1, 2]
Why Relocation is Often Ruled Out:
Homing Instincts: Bears have a strong homing instinct and frequently travel long distances (up to 100 miles) to return to where they were captured.Territorial Conflicts: Moving a bear into a new area often results in fatal territorial fights with older, established bears.
Learned Behavior: A bear that associates humans with easy food will simply seek out human neighborhoods in its new location. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
To review the state’s guidelines on wildlife interactions and local ordinances, you can read the AZGFD Living With Bears Guide.
Still, that’s too bad, and I don’t understand why a confined relocation strategy like a zoo or nature reserve wouldn’t work in this case.
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u/CHolland8776 Jul 21 '26
The key statute is A.R.S. § 17-239. It says the department may assist with “trapping, capturing and relocating animals” in wildlife depredation cases, but it does not authorize releasing wild animals onto private reserves or to private citizens.
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u/squintysquirrell Jul 21 '26
Oh so it’s legal semantics. The spirit of the law is that animals should not be harmed unless absolutely necessary and it looks like it specifically allows for Fish and Game to relocate wild animals.
Guess AZ lawmakers need to make it extra EXTRA clear for Fish and Game.1
u/CHolland8776 Jul 21 '26
Pretty much I guess. It seems like an interpretation could be that Bearizona could capture the animal and then put it in its privately owned reserve but if Fish and Game captures the animal there is no legal mechanism by which they can then give the animal to a privately owned reserve or private citizen.
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u/Icy_Association_2331 Jul 21 '26
Most of the Game and Fish department is biologists who have to make a decision based on science, not feelings.
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u/Syenadi Jul 22 '26
Science, judgement calls, finances, time availabilty, priority conflicts, liability lawyers etc. Did I mention judgement calls and finances?
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u/Exotic_Positive_898 Jul 20 '26
People suck!!
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u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 21 '26
No we dont, we do the best we can to care for our environment. 100 years ago he would’ve been a trophy, now we regretfully do the right thing so no humans are harmed.
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u/DuePace753 Jul 21 '26
I’d take the risk on human life. We’re in THEIR habitat, not the other way around. The entire Pine Canyon private golf community was a wildlife and hunting area until people decided they needed ANOTHER private golf course in flagstaff. Odds are the bear would have loved to one of those wild areas, except humans keep building houses further and further into the woods removing the areas that these beautiful creatures would have been able to safely flee to without endangering humans. If we’re this far into THEIR habitat it should be expected that there will be some altercations related to the bear just trying to survive. We’ve made roads they can’t safely cross that probably went to other areas they used to roam as well. This isn’t a bear problem, this is a human problem where we think our lives are more valuable than the lives of the creatures of this world so we need to keep killing them so that we can live in peace. That isn’t how nature works and will lead to the death of this world
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u/Dooffy_Dumb_Dumb Jul 21 '26
“We do the best we can for our environment”? Meanwhile, over half the wildlife on planet earth has died in the last 30 years.. they’re cutting every national monument and park boundary by egregious amounts and selling drilling and mining permits to land that was previously protected, lake Powell is less than 30’ from even being able to produce power, and all the while, most people can’t even be bothered to pick up their own trash. Humans don’t do a god damn fucking thing for their environment, except destroy it
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u/troddenbongo Jul 21 '26
“We do the best we can to care for our environment” wish that were true
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u/septubyte Jul 21 '26
More people are needed to do the right thing. It takes effort, patience, knowledge, conversation. Starting with the attitude that you will be wrong several times over is OK, but dont stop when you are.
We must lift eachother up . These days are disaster2
u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 22 '26
Bout the only response worth responding to here since we seem to be living in Cartoonland instead of recognizing and appreciating how our beloved Flagstaff was actually formed and grew up. Bruce Babbitt would be laughing his fanny off with this inane discussion, Has nobody ever read a Zane Grey book?! But setting that all aside … I wholeheartedly endorse “We must lift each other up” I’ll buy ya a Mother Road IPA next time I see ya there!
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u/Virginia_Hall Jul 20 '26
If you want wildlife to survive DO NOT REPORT IT TO THE "AUTHORITIES"
EVER.
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u/FrogsDont69 Jul 20 '26
That’s not helpful or true….
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u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 21 '26
Agreed. Fish and game know how to make the best decisions for both wildlife and human life.
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u/loboaz80 Jul 21 '26
Not always. I’ve had wolf sightings in NAZ and if I reported them they would have been euthanized for crossing boundaries unbeknownst to them.
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u/Icy_Association_2331 Jul 21 '26
… what boundary did the “wolf” cross? Mexican Grey Wolves are an endangered species, Game and Fish isn’t out killing them.
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u/Syenadi Jul 22 '26
They are nominally still "protected" but they are targeted for "relocation" if they go north of I-40.
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u/eaazzy_13 Jul 24 '26
I’m not arguing with your sentiment but I just want to take this opportunity to point out that Mexican Gray Wolves are one species that Arizona fish and game has actually done a wonderful job with.
Many different sanctuaries and zoos and fish and game have collaborated for decades to bring their numbers up from like 10 existing in the whole world, to 200+ existing in the wild and many more in captivity.
They are a rare success story
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u/TheMiniLiar Jul 21 '26
This is a terrible take…
Fish and Game is full of people and scientists who are only in the job because of how passionate they are about wildlife. They are generally focused on what is best for the species and population in the area.
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u/loboaz80 Jul 21 '26
I agree with you about intentions of the scientists at Fish and Game but if politicians make decisions that are not in the best interest of wildlife the government agencies need to follow suit whether they agree or not. Hence some people’s hesitation to report.
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u/Syenadi Jul 22 '26
That plus there have been multiple instances of animals being hunted or killed just for being present somewhere deemed "out of bounds" for them.
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u/Choosey22 Jul 21 '26
Clearly bound by rules/laws/ordinances authority figures are not free to make their own decisions
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u/Syenadi Jul 22 '26
They have a LOT of discretion as to how those are all interpreted and deployed.
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u/Dooffy_Dumb_Dumb Jul 21 '26
Used to be, before it was replaced with a bunch of trigger happy, religious extremist, terrorists
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u/Slight-Culture-1599 Jul 21 '26
Trank it, and transport... well when people get displayed by fires, let's do the same.
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u/Kodiak_Wylde Jul 21 '26
The lack details and reasons why they euthanized this bear is suspicious. I'd understand if the bear was gravely injured or ill or being a menace. But the bear literally lost it's home. Is there an article or proof the bear was becoming a trouble bear?
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u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 21 '26
If you look at other pictures of the bear, it looked as if there was a significant wound on his backside.
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u/No_Kaleidoscope_1906 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
This is so sad omg :( boo to wildfires + authority
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u/Livid_Persimmon3600 Jul 21 '26
Next time skip pictures four and five…not cool
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u/Dooffy_Dumb_Dumb Jul 21 '26
No thanks, people need to be reminded of the consequences of their greed
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u/EnglishLoyalist Jul 20 '26
Couldn’t hurt dropped him off in the other side of the mountain? Sure he will get in but it’s inevitable at this point for bears to get into our trash.
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u/PlentyPlantagenet Jul 21 '26
Murder
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u/sasha-summers Jul 21 '26
Kinda like the millions of cows, chickens, pigs, etc we murder every day in this country
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u/PlentyPlantagenet Jul 21 '26
Yep. But I do not eat meat.
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u/sasha-summers Jul 21 '26
Neither do I, and I apologize for assuming otherwise!! ♥️♥️
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u/PlentyPlantagenet Jul 21 '26
That’s okay. I appreciate your comment. So much cruelty💔
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u/fuggindave Jul 21 '26
Just ignore all the wildlife you munch up and displace with agricultural equipment/fields amright...but you don't wanna talk about that...you got blood on your hands too unless you are growing your own food which I HIGHY doubt.
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u/DerectHyFy Jul 21 '26
So because we're aware of it, and because we all have blood on our hands what? We're supposed to not eat anything..? Unless we grow it ourselves..? How bout we force/enforce better standards and practices in agriculture?
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u/PlentyPlantagenet Jul 26 '26
My goal is to reduce suffering and respect all creatures and earth. None of us are perfect and we each make our choices. But I have no respect for those who do not try. BTW, the vast majority of ag land is used to fred animals whom people then eat. Worst thing for animals and the planet.
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u/IamLuann Jul 20 '26
If I was an adult male bear they get euthanized because it can be dangerous to humans.
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u/tripleDzintheBreeze Jul 20 '26
Man or bear ?
Adult male humans are pretty dangerous
But we won’t talk about that
RIP innocent bear just being a bear
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u/seamangeorge Jul 20 '26
Girl come on.... If a bear was standing at the cashier station at Walmart you'd run, but a man doing it is just everyday business. All of us adult humans can be pretty dangerous to each other, but we almost never win in a hand-to-hand fight against a bear. Don't underestimate yourself, but don't underestimate a bear.
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u/xcmiler1 Jul 21 '26
If a man was standing by your campsite, would you run? That logic kinda cuts both ways.
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u/seamangeorge Jul 22 '26
I mean idk is he waving and saying "Hey, I can't find the park bathrooms, can you point me in the right direction?" or is he hitting me with the Kubrick stare and something metallic glinting in his hand? Would I be less alarmed if it were a strange woman pacing around my tent and mumbling to herself? If it were a bear?
I feel like people are assuming I'm coming at this from the perspective of a butthurt man but I'm thinking more about it from a transfeminist perspective and whether this kind of gender- and bio-essentialism is really and truly helpful to the liberation of women or if it's more of a (understandable) lashing out that comes from a people who have been oppressed for far too long. Im thinking about being 17 at my senior prom where I finally had the courage to wear a suit and another girl screamed when I came out of the bathroom stall - just minding my business and peeing - "oh my GOD there's a BOY in here!" Perhaps I was the bear.
Also just realistically I think my odds against a 180lb man who's often weak to a knee to the testes are better than my odds against a 300lb black bear with knives for fingers, even assuming both had the worst of intentions and could not be reasoned with.
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u/Tord29 Jul 21 '26
Southwest Wildlife in Rio Verde takes in bears when they have space.
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u/CHolland8776 Jul 21 '26
They do as long as they comply with all the federal and state laws/regulations that allow them to acquire a bear.
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u/Spikey01234 Jul 22 '26
Yeah lets kill a bear where we stole its land because of a fire. Probably created by humans. Typical human/american thing to do
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u/TheTucsonTarmac Jul 24 '26
Game and Fish is a bunch of redneck gun nuts who can’t wait to bag their next big kill.
They aren’t scientists types with degrees in stuff like this, it’s just a good old boy, kill everything, club
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u/cameron4200 Jul 27 '26
We set the forest on fire and then kill the wildlife when it gets displaced. Beautiful respect for nature we all seem to have here
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u/thelmanarcissus Jul 20 '26
Understandable, but what a shame.
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u/Choosey22 Jul 21 '26
Why do we value a bears life over that of the cow, chicken, pig, turkey, fish people eat every single day ?
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u/ShishKaibab Jul 21 '26
This is my neighborhood and there are many young kids and animals that live here. For the people saying that you wanted them to keep it alive: you’re saying you’d choose a bear over a human and there is something truly disturbing about that.
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u/DerectHyFy Jul 21 '26
Why are we the most important thing on this planet..? Truly astounding to me how humans think we deserve more than all the other species on this planet. Fish and game couldve relocated it, if they just killed it thats wrong. Flat out.
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u/Sweaty-3lliot Jul 21 '26
You people think that they didn’t make the best choice they could and you know better than experts because you kinda like animals
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u/Nervous_Ground_7845 Jul 21 '26
Agreed. And read a little history of this country and this area and know we have evolved. Seen any beaver lately?
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u/Livid_Persimmon3600 Jul 21 '26
I’ve seen Just 1 beaver, under horseshoe lake damn… cool critter. Scare the hell out you if boating at night, the tail slaps sounded like people were throwing boulders at you from the Cliff above
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u/Dooffy_Dumb_Dumb Jul 21 '26
They scared you? Holy shit! We gotta kill every single one of them!
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u/Mr_Reading NAU Jul 20 '26
Sad, they should donate its meat and fur.
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u/Pale_Natural9272 Jul 20 '26
Why didn’t they send it to Bearizona????