Injured black bear roaming north Minneapolis is euthanized

The animal was seen Sunday in a dense neighborhood.

May 8, 2023 at 12:12AM

A black bear wandering in north Minneapolis neighborhoods was euthanized Sunday.

The bear was spotted Sunday morning near Girard and 14th avenues N. According to Minneapolis police, officers found the bear, which looked as though it had an injured front paw.

The state Department of Natural Resources was called in to help, and Minneapolis police tracked the bear around the neighborhood using a drone and with help from park police and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

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Neighbors noticed the bear, too, with photos and video of the animal on city streets and in one neighborhood park shared on local Facebook groups.

The Department of Natural Resources euthanized the bear just after 11 a.m. near N. 22nd and Girard avenues, and removed its carcass.

The DNR kills only those bears believed to pose a threat to human safety, according to the department's website. The DNR averages fewer than six bear killings each year.

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Josie Albertson-Grove

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Josie Albertson-Grove covers politics and government for the Star Tribune.

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