A young bear bit an officer while state wildlife officials attempted to capture it on Wednesday. In accordance with state policy, state officials euthanized the bear and will test it for rabies at the Utah Public Health Laboratory. Credit: Photo courtesy of Wasatch County Sheriff's Department St ate officials on Wednesday captured and euthanized a black bear cub found near Heber City after it bit an officer. Bear sightings have more than doubled this year as the animals seek alternative food sources in lower elevation areas following the statewide drought, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The state wildlife division received a report at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday about a young black bear near the Heber Valley Airport. An animal services officer located the bear and requested assistance from law enforcement. At 10 a.m., a Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division officer and Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived. Officers located the bear along the shoulder of the road between the airfield fence and Highway 189. The Natural Resources officer grabbed the bear by the scruff to prevent the cub from climbing the fence and entering the airfield or running into oncoming traffic, and deputies helped with a catch pole. Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office made a Facebook post at 11:02 a.m. Wednesday with photos of deputies and the captured bear. “The mama bear could not be located, and the cub appeared to be lost and confused,” the post read. “Thankfully, the cub was safely captured without injury and is now in good hands while his situation is being evaluated.” However, state wildlife officials later euthanized the bear. The cub bit one of the officers during the encounter, according to the Division of Wildlife Resources. Officers then loaded the animal into a live transport crate and removed it from the area. In accordance with state policy, officials euthanized the bear and will test it for rabies at the Utah Public Health Laboratory. Rabies testing requires that the animal be euthanized, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Division of Wildlife Resources said it is dealing with more than double the bear issues across the state this year compared to last year. Warm weather this spring, followed by several hard freezes, and then extreme heat and drought conditions have impacted plants such as berries and acorns and other root-like vegetation, which make up 90% of a black bear’s diet. As a result, bears have been seeking different food sources in other areas this year, leading them to migrate into lower elevation areas, including several neighborhoods across Utah.  According to the division, residents can help black bears in Utah by keeping a clean camp and bear-proofing food and garbage, as well as not leaving out trash cans if in the foothills or canyons.  The division provided some safety tips for black bear encounters: Stand your ground: Never back up, lie down or play dead. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. Prepare to use your bear spray or another deterrent. Don’t run away or climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers and can run up to 35 mph. Know bear behavior. If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it’s not being aggressive. These are the ways a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses its interest. If a black bear attacks, always fight back and never give up. People have successfully defended themselves with almost anything: rocks, sticks, backpacks, water bottles and even their hands and feet. For more tips on staying safe around black bears, visit the Wild Aware Utah website at wildawareutah.org/utah-wildlife-information/bears.  The post State wildlife officials euthanize bear cub found near Heber Valley Airport after it bites officer appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less