Officials Now Know What Happened To 4 Dead Bears Found Outside Church

The West Wyoming Borough Police Department conducted an investigation into the deaths of three bear cubs and their nearly 300-pound mother, found in the parking lot of St. Monica’s Parish. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has labeled these deaths as suspicious and is seeking public assistance.

According to the commission, there were no visible signs of bullet wounds or external trauma on the bears. Mark Rutkowski, the Game Commission’s Northeast Region Law Enforcement Supervisor, stated, “We consider the deaths of these bears highly suspicious. Toxicological testing will be performed to determine the cause of death.”

Tests conducted at the Penn State Animal Diagnostic Laboratory indicated that the bears likely died from poisoning. It was discovered that the bears had ingested leaves and seeds from an English yew (Taxus baccata) plant, which contains the toxic alkaloid compound taxine. The toxicity of yew increases during the winter, affecting the heart’s ability to beat properly.

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The police department provided further details on Facebook, stating, “Organic chemical screens were performed on the stomach contents, liver, and kidneys of the bears to test for pesticides, euthanasia agents, and environmental contaminants. All results were negative.” The presence of yew leaves and seeds in the bears’ stomachs led to the conclusion that they died from plant toxin poisoning.