‘Distressed’ bear tried to enter a home, police say
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ELKINS -- Local law enforcement officers were dispatched to Harpertown Road Monday in reference to a bear attempting to enter a home, police said.
Randolph County Sheriff's Office Deputy TJ Knotts and DT Sayre of the Elkins Police Department responded to the 911 call and, once on scene, located the bear on the home's deck at the back of the house, according to a Sheriff's Office press release.
The officers determined that the bear was "in distress," emaciated and had physical ailments as well as a mangy coat, the release states.
"Both officers knew something was wrong with the bear as soon as they saw it," Sheriff Rob Elbon wrote in the release. "When they approached the bear it just turned around, sat down on its behind and looked at them. It just didn't act normal at all."
The bear, which had gums that were deformed and not the typical color, was humanely dispatched by Deputy Knotts, according to the post.
The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources were called to retrieve the bear and take it away for further testing.
"We don't know if the bear had rabies or if there was something else wrong with it," Elbon wrote. "It didn't even look like a bear to me, it looked like it a was mutant, almost. It kind of looked like a pig and bear together, I've never seen anything quite like it."
Elbon said anyone seeing an animal acting out of the ordinary should call 911, local law enforcement, or the DNR.
"If anyone sees an animal that looks like it's in distress and not acting normal, they should call and report it," Elbon wrote. "If you see a wild animal and it's not attempting to get away from you, generally there is something wrong with it."