A shocking discovery was made in a Pennsylvania church parking lot when three dead bear cubs and their massive 300-pound mother were found. The West Wyoming Borough Police Department was called to the scene at St. Monica’s Parish to investigate the suspicious deaths.
The police department enlisted the help of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and together, they launched an investigation into the bears’ deaths. The commission asked the public for assistance in determining the cause of death, as there were no visible signs of trauma or bullet wounds on the animals.
Mark Rutkowski, Law Enforcement Supervisor for the Game Commission’s Northeast Region, stated that the deaths were considered highly suspicious, and toxicological testing would be performed to determine the cause of death.
After conducting a thorough investigation, the Pennsylvania Game Commission revealed that the likely cause of death was poisoning. The four bears were found dead in or around the same tree, with no evidence of thrashing or stumbling in the area, suggesting that they died suddenly.
A post-mortem examination and toxicological testing were performed on the mother bear and one of the cubs at the Penn State Animal Diagnostic Laboratory in State College. The examination revealed that the bears had recently consumed leaves and seeds of an English yew plant, which contains a toxic compound called taxine.
The English yew plant is commonly found in urban environments and is highly toxic to most animals and humans if ingested. The toxicity level of the plant increases during the winter months, making it even more deadly.
The investigation ruled out other potential causes of death, including pesticides, euthanasia agents, and environmental contaminants. The presence of the English yew leaves and seeds in the bears’ stomachs led to the conclusion that their deaths were caused by plant toxin poisoning.
The solved mystery of the four bears’ deaths serves as a reminder of the importance of being aware of the potential dangers of certain plants and taking steps to prevent accidents.
