A bear that led to trail closures in Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson since September was been shot and killed.
Hikers spotted the bear on Sunday and were not successful in scaring the bear away.
Mark Hart with the Arizona Game and Fish Department said the lack of fear displayed by the 175-pound female bear is what led to the decision to kill the animal because relocation was no longer possible.
“That wasn’t even an option with this bear. It was much more dangerous compared to something that was more routine,” he said.
Hart said if they had kept the bear alive, it could continue to pose a threat because most bears attempt to find their way back to their original habitat. And the bear would likely continue to be a threat to humans by associating them with food.