WORLAND – A female black bear was euthanized by Ten Sleep District Game Warden Tom Desomber on Saturday, Aug. 29, after becoming habitated in a quest for hibernation protein.

“Basically,” said Desomber, “a fed bear is a dead bear. It’s sad, but it became accustomed to finding human food in the area and had to be put down.”

The bear, estimated to be 3 years old, had become a problem over the last month, returning to cabins and campsites along West Ten Sleep Creek Road, in a search for food left by campers and seasonal cabin owners. “She was real hungry,” said Desomber. “It didn’t help that cabin owners left out birdseed and food garbage.”

After repeated sightings, and fearing eventual interaction with humans, Game Warden Desomber set a culvert trap on Friday at noon. By Saturday the bear had been trapped, and was given a lethal dose of tranquilizer on Saturday evening. “Landowners had been out there trying to scare it off,” said Desomber. “It could have become a bad deal.”

The bear’s teeth were pulled before disposal, and sent to the Game and Fish lab in Laramie to determine exact age.

Desomber reminds campers and cabin owners in the area to clean up after themselves at all times, and avoid leaving out food for birds.

“It’s always a good idea to keep your food and trash indoors, or invest in a bear-proof receptacle,” he said.