SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — 70 bears have been euthanized in Utah so far this year as wildlife officials respond to a growing number of bear encounters, driven in part by persistent drought and wildfire conditions across the state.
According to Darby Doyle with the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), biologists and other partnering law enforcement agencies have responded 317 times so far this year to bear issues across the state. This is nearly four times higher compared to just 83 incidents in 2025.
Earlier this week, officers had to euthanize a bear cub that was found near Heber city Airport after the cub bit a DNR officer…