Bear safety talks after triple euthanization in Adirondacks

OLD FORGE, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says it humanely euthanized an adult and two young black bears after reports of aggressive behavior from the animals in the Hamlet of Old Forge, Herkimer County.

Michelle Bartlett, a business owner and wildlife advocate, however, says humans are at fault for the bears’ deaths.

“Today we lost a mom and two babies”  Bartlett said in a TikTok video.

Bartlett, owner of the Life in the ADK Gift Shop went to the social media site to chastise a group of people she says harassed the mother bear and two cubs — leading to the mom’s aggression and the trio’s death.

“So if you were at Old Forge yesterday and you are a part of that crowd that chased those bears and corralled those bears, and when she treed her bears to try to keep them safe, and you stood there and you threw apples at her, and you took her picture, and you called them names, and you followed them everywhere that they went, they’re dead! I hope you’re happy!” Bartlett said on TIkTok.

The DEC didn’t get into as much detail about the event but said the situation fell under a Class 1 Bear Interaction. It means that the bears showed dangerous behavior to people and pets, were likely to attack, would have been previously deemed a threat and therefore had to be put down.

“If we the human species had given her room to just walk through town, to walk from this location to the next location without following her and without making her feel trapped, she would have just moved right on and walked right through like she did all the other days” Bartlett told NEWS10’s Zion Decoteau.

Both Bartlett and DEC Big Game Biologist Brendan Quirion urge people to leave bears alone.

“Don’t approach them. Don’t attempt to feed them, and just give them some space,” Quirion told NEWS10.

And if you come in close contact with a bear the biologist gives simple advice…make noise, don’t run!

“Usually they will be frightened by that and will move off on their own,” Quirion added.

Overall both agree that distance is is the best way to keep people and bears safe from each other.

“That’s what we live in the Adirondacks, to be in and amongst the wildlife. But, we also need to leave them alone and let them do what they need to do. Wildlife…first word is wild! Let them be wild,” said Bartlett.

The biologist says cutting off food supplies to bears like bird feeders and trash are critical in keeping them wild and not dependent on humans for food. He also says euthanizing bears is done sparingly as changing human behavior is the DEC’s preferred method of preventing attacks.

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