Yellowstone National Park officials report that a 144-pound adult female black bear had to be removed from the park's bear population after crushing several tents and obtaining human food in a backcountry campsite.

The bear entered an unpeopled backcountry campsite in the Bechler area in the southwest corner of the park, destroyed one tent and damaged four others set up at the site, and obtained human food from at least one of the tents. Camp occupants did not see the tent crushing but did return to the campsite in time to see the bear climb the food pole where additional food was stored, knock it to the ground, and consume some of the contents. Park staff were notified and initiated trapping operations at the backcountry campsite, bringing an aluminum bear trap in by helicopter. On the evening of August 8, the bear was captured.

Because the bear was deemed a danger to public safety and not considered suitable for release back into the wild (Grizzly Bear Special Rule 50 CFR 17.40), various agencies and a nationwide zoo clearinghouse were contacted in an effort to place the bear in a suitable institution. No agency was willing to accept the bear, and on August 12 the bear had to be euthanized.

The Yellowstone National Park bear management policy strives to ensure a natural and free-ranging population of black and grizzly bears. One important aspect of that management is the separation of bears from unnatural food sources; it is illegal?and dangerous?to leave food where bears can obtain it. Human foods are the chief culprit in the creation of problem bears and can lead to their becoming increasingly aggressive, requiring their destruction or removal from the area. In this particular incident, the campers disregard for food storage regulations did lead to the death of this bear.

An investigation is continuing into the incident.