Victor – a 400lb Bear Put to Sleep

A beloved 400-pound bear in a California town has been killed following an incident in which it attacked a woman, igniting calls for accountability and changes in how state and federal authorities manage the increasing population of habituated black bears.

The bear, referred to as “Victor” by residents due to a distinctive v-shaped patch of light fur on his chest, had been a common sight in the Lake Mary area near Mammoth Lakes, often scavenging for food left out by campers during busy summer months. While some locals viewed his presence as an exciting attraction, Victor’s behavior had grown more aggressive in recent years, as he frequently approached campers to raid their food supplies.

The situation escalated on August 21 when Victor disrupted a campsite dinner, causing chaos among campers as he rummaged through their picnic items. In the confrontation, a woman attempted to film the bear and was subsequently swiped on the leg, resulting in a severe laceration that required hospital treatment.

Prior to this incident, wildlife officials had already marked Victor for aggressive behavior. Earlier that month, he had injured a man who tried to take a selfie with him. In that case, officials concluded that the human’s actions may have instigated the bear. However, after the recent attack, wildlife officers deemed it necessary to euthanize Victor, which they did the day after the incident.

The bear’s carcass was removed to a landfill in Bishop for burial, a process that raised concerns among locals when a photo of Victor’s body at the site was circulated online, sparking public outrage. People are debating responsibility for the bear’s death, with some arguing that the campers lured Victor by leaving food out to create a wildlife encounter.

A Change.org petition, titled “Justice for Victor the Bear,” was launched, demanding fines for the campers and better handling of future encounters between bears and humans. By Friday, the petition had accumulated over 6,300 signatures.

In response to the bear’s tragic fate, Steven Orihuela, chairman of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, took action to ensure that Victor received a respectful burial. He arranged for the bear’s body to be exhumed from the landfill and reburied on tribal land, as bears hold significant spiritual meaning to the tribe, often referred to affectionately in their culture.

The tribe plans to meet with state officials to discuss the incident and emphasize the importance of involving Indigenous communities in similar situations moving forward. Wildlife officials have expressed a willingness to engage in this dialogue to foster coexistence between humans and bears and prevent such tragedies in the future.