Glacier euthanizes black bear injured in crash

Glacier National Park rangers euthanized a black bear last week after it was found with traumatic injuries along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, apparently after being struck by a vehicle, the park said Monday.

The animal was discovered about 2 miles east of Rising Sun at about 2 p.m. Thursday, and officials believe it had been struck by a vehicle around 20 minutes earlier, the park said in a news release.

The male bear, believed to be between 2 1/2 and 5 years old, suffered a severely broken jaw, an injured foreleg and potentially damage to its rib cage and lung area. Rangers euthanized the bear after consulting a park biologist and determining the animal could not survive its injuries.

"The visitor who hit the bear did not report the incident, so the circumstances of the collision are unknown," the park said in the release. "The location of the incident was in an area with vegetation close to the road, which could have obscured the bear's movement onto the road and may have played a role."

Glacier officials urge visitors to watch out for wildlife as well as people when driving through the park, and obey all speed limits. All collisions with wildlife should be reported to the nearest ranger or visitor center to prevent further harm to other motorists as well as other wildlife that may come to scavenge on the carcass.

Conflicts between humans and bears in Glacier are not uncommon. Park officials earlier this month euthanized a black bear that had become "food-conditioned" and repeatedly wandered through the Many Glacier Campground in search of food, posing a threat to visitors.