A California Bear Was Killed Due to Irresponsible Camper Behavior, and Locals Want Justice

Irresponsible tourist behavior is nothing new when it comes to wildlife, but a recent controversy has particularly touched a nerve. The August 22 killing of an adult male bear known as Victor in Northern California has many wildlife and environmentalists saying enough is enough when it comes to giving visitors a pass — especially when bears pay the price.

In late August, the Mammoth Lake Police Department announced that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) trapped and euthanized Victor the bear. The killing followed an incident on August 21, during which Victor swiped at a camper near the town’s popular Lake Mary, causing deep cuts to her leg. Victor was a frequent visitor to the campground, where he often scavenger for food left behind by campers. On a previous encounter earlier in the month, Victor swiped at a different camper attempting to take a bear selfie, causing minor injuries. But after the August 21 incident, CDFW determined that the bear “had become habituated to human sources of food,” and was “deemed a threat to public safety and was euthanized.”

But it’s not quite so clean cut, and now, many locals and Californians are saying that Victor the bear did nothing wrong — and that the camper should face legal action.

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Following the incident, Mammoth Lakes resident and former wildlife officer Steve Searles posted two items on Facebook: a heartbreaking photo showing the bear’s body next to its unmarked grave near a local dump (warning: the photo is graphic), and a video that appear to show the woman not taking proper action to protect herself. Searles, known as the “bear whisperer,” also shared that he had interviewed other parties in the campground, who reported the woman and her friends had been intentionally leaving food out every night to bait Victor into visiting their campsite to film him. If that was true, it would be a violation of at least four regulations regarding black bears, including “practicing safe food storage,” “keeping a clean camp,” “securing all trash,” and “no bear selfies.”

In the video posted by Searles and shared widely on social media, it appears that the woman did not react properly when she allowed Victor to get close, failing to make noise, stand with the rest of her group, or slowly back away. Additionally, she should not have allowed Victor — who was slowly walking through camp, not running — to get within 100 yards of her to begin with. In the video, it appears as if the woman is just watching Victor as he approaches, holding her cell phone to her chest as her friends filming nearby laugh and joke. The release of the video caused outrage among Victor’s beloved fans, as the CDFW announced that the woman had “attempted to escape the bear by standing on a stump.” She was also standing between Victor and the “bear box” — a metal storage container used for storing food that would have been known to Victor (and all other wildlife) to contain human food.

Black bears like Victor the bear, such as the one shown here, are common in the Sierra Nevada. Photo: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

The CDFW did not say the incident was Victor the bear’s fault, and included in the announcement was a note on how to properly act in bear country. Fines and citations for violating rules designed to protect bears in California vary depending on the land managers; California State Parks can fine visitors up to $1,000, while Yosemite National Park can slap violators with a $5,000 fine.

But no fines have been issued and locals are outraged, with nearly 40,000 signatures on a “Justice for Victor” petition started one week ago. Advocates for Victor and other bears of the Sierra Nevada say they want his death to lead to action, calling for both new policies on bear management and penalties for the campers who baited Victor and violated proper “Bear Aware” behavior. As of early September, the names of the woman and her fellow campers have not been released, though she has been identified as a 61-year-old woman from Los Angeles.

While Victor’s death remains heartbreaking for many, members of the local Bishop Paiute Tribe took action to give Victor the respect many say he still deserves. The tribe contacted CDFW to get permission to rebury Victor, removing him form the grave dug by CDFW and reburying him in a traditional ceremony on tribal land. The ceremony reportedly included songs and blessings to give Victor a traditional and respectful farewell.

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