SWAN VALLEY — A black bear that tore through a window screen to break into an occupied Swan Valley home while the residents slept — and helped itself to a pumpkin pie in the process — has been euthanized after returning to the property a second time, according to Idaho Fish and Game.
The first break-in happened the night of July 12, when the male bear entered the residence through a window screen while the homeowners were asleep inside. Once inside, the bear ransacked the kitchen and ate a pumpkin pie left on the table. The residents weren't harmed and didn't realize the break-in had happened until they discovered the damage the next morning, according to Fish and Game.
The bear came back the following night, this time knocking over a garbage can outside and getting into unsecured household trash for another meal.
Because the bear had entered an occupied home, Fish and Game set a trap to capture it. The effort succeeded and the bear was euthanized in accordance with agency policy for bears considered a clear risk to human safety.
"Our number one priority is always human safety and we are extremely grateful that the individuals inside the home are OK," Fish and Game Wildlife Manager Eric Freeman said in a statement. "In a situation where a bear has entered a residence, relocation is not an option."
Fish and Game is reminding residents in bear country to secure food attractants, including leftovers, garbage and pet food. Bears that get access to human food can quickly become habituated and food-conditioned, the agency said, which increases the risk of property damage, dangerous encounters and the need for lethal management action.
Anyone with questions about living in bear country or who wants to report a wildlife concern can contact the Idaho Fish and Game's Upper Snake Region office at 208-525-7290.