Black Bear Euthanized After Unexpected Visit to Brooklyn Park Neighborhood

An unexpected visitor caused a stir over the weekend when a black bear was spotted near a Brooklyn Park apartment complex.

Brooklyn Park police responded to an animal complaint call around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, at the West Broadway Apartments and immediately contacted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for assistance.

After evaluating the situation, DNR officials determined that once a bear enters a highly populated urban area, it is unlikely to find its way back to its natural habitat on its own. The DNR then made the decision the euthanize the bear. 

Police say tranquilizing the bear and relocating it wasn’t a feasible option. 

“The tranquilizer isn’t immediate, and so then what you have is a scared bear that has some sort of drugs going through its system, running around, in a highly populated neighborhood. So, it’s not really a good option,” said Brooklyn Park Police Inspector Matt Rabe.

The black bear lies on the ground in Brooklyn Park after being dispatched by the DNR. Photo courtesy: Nate Tolentino

In a website post, the Minnesota DNR says it only kills bears when they have been determined to be a public safety threat; this happens on average fewer than six times per year. The post went on to explain its position on killing and trapping problem bears:

This practice ended in 2000 because trapping and moving bears does not resolve the underlying problem, which is the presence of attractive food sources provided by people. Removing and securing attractants is much more effective at reducing bear problems than trapping and moving bears. Moving a problem bear can cause problems elsewhere because the bear is forced to find food in a new area, and often the easiest source of food in a foreign environment for a bear is birdseed or trash.”

What To Do If You See Distressed Wildlife

The Brooklyn Park Police Department is using this incident to remind residents of the proper protocols when encountering wild or potentially dangerous animals.

If you spot an animal that poses a direct threat to public safety, or appears distressed or injured, police say to call 911 immediately.

Related: Brooklyn Park Woman’s Coyote Scare Attracts Questions

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