Body of bear mysteriously missing after being spotted off highway in Eugene

Lina PortmanMay 30, 2024

0 2 minutes read

An American black bear found dead off the Beltline Highway near River Road is now missing. Oregon State Police are seeking the return of the body.

A photo of the dead bear was posted on the Lane County Facebook page taken before 7 a.m. Tuesday. Shortly after, the bear's body disappeared.

OSP and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife received calls about the deceased bear around 7:30 a.m. OSP said troopers patrolled a 12-mile section of Beltline Highway and were unable to locate the bear. However, they found bloodstains that indicate where the bear was likely hit by a car.

This could be the same bear that was seen near the West Bank bike path in the River Road area around 11 a.m. Monday.

OSP determined that the deceased bear was likely captured illegally by a member of the public. It is illegal to take many deceased wildlife animals, including cougar, bear, pronghorn, bighorn sheep or Rocky Mountain goat, according to ODFW.

OSP and ODFW are asking for any information on who removed this bear. Call the OSP Springfield Area Command Center for information regarding the deceased bear at 541-726-2536.

Only deer, elk, and unprotected animals, including coyotes, skunks, coypu, opossums, badgers, porcupines, and weasels, may be collected from roadways. If a commuter hits and kills a large wild animal or sees a dead animal on the roadway, pull it to the side of the road if it is safe to do so, or call 911.

Why do bears roam urban areas?

Christopher Yee, ODFW district wildlife biologist at the Springfield field office, said it's not uncommon for bears to wander into residential areas in the spring when they emerge from torpor, which is a lighter version of hibernation, in search of food.

“They’re pretty hungry,” Yee said. “They can smell garbage, bird food, berries and different kinds of smells that might come from a city in residential areas, and that attracts them. They're hungry enough where they're entering to try to secure those food sources.”

Yee said American black bears, which are the only type of bear found in Oregon, have an incredible sense of smell, second only to turkey vultures in North America.

Yee said ODFW urges residents every spring to manage their trash, avoid feeding pets outside, take down bird feeders and properly clean barbecue grills to avoid attracting bears. He added that if bears wandered into town, they would leave on their own if they couldn't find anything to eat.

Yee said people should never feed bears because they could develop habits of staying in residential areas, putting themselves in danger.

“That’s what everyone wants, for them to get back into nature,” Yee said. “They will be hungry, but everything will be fine.”

If you see a bear in a residential area, first assess what it is doing. Yee said if it seems aggressive, call 911, but if it doesn't appear to be an immediate threat, call ODFW to report the bear. The Springfield ODFW field office can be reached at 541-726-3515.

Lina Portman

Related Articles

Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for violent sexual assault

2 arrested for shooting at citizens with pellet gun in Tullahoma, TN

Genshin Impact Clorinde build | VG247

Man seriously injured in shooting on Turnpike in southwest Miami-Dade – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports