A large black bear that had been approaching and menacing hikers in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson since September was killed Sunday by state wildlife officers.
The female bear, weighing about 175 pounds, was shot at Josephine Saddle along the Old Baldy Trail above Madera Canyon after approaching to within 25 feet of a group of hikers earlier in the day, said Mark Hart, spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“We’re absolutely confident it was the same bear” that had approached and menaced other hikers, Hart said. “That’s based on photos and video taken by hikers.”
He said the bear, which had approached hikers on several occasions since Sept. 28, “had charged hikers to within 10 feet. It also reared up on its hind feet. One hiker used pepper spray because it got so close ... We’re certain the bear had lost its fear of humans and associated their presence with food.”
On Nov. 4, “Some people from the Forest Service encountered the bear in the Josephine Saddle area and lost a backpack to it,” Hart said. “They couldn’t scare it away so they left the area.”
He said wildlife officers removed a portion of the bear for disease testing. “The rest was secured on the mountain.”
Officials of the Game and Fish Department “are really grateful for all the members of the public who came forward with information about the bear, including photos and videos,” Hart said.
