Yellowstone Park Officials Euthanize Bear that Killed Hiker
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park officials say they euthanized a grizzly bear after DNA tests confirmed it attacked and killed a hiker last week.
Park officials say the adult female bear was killed Thursday because it had eaten part of the Montana man's body and hid the rest. They say that is not the behavior of a female bear defending its young. An autopsy confirmed 63-year-old Lance Crosby of Billings died of a bear attack. His body was found by park rangers on Friday about a half-mile from the nearest trail.
Park officials captured the adult bear and two cubs. DNA from bear hair samples collected next to Crosby's body confirmed the female was responsible for the attack. They say arrangements are being made to transfer the cubs to a zoo.