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Bear found scavenged, wearing leash outside of Yellowknife

ENR officers found the bear on Saturday afternoon on Highway 3 outside of Yellowknife. Photo Courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Environment and Natural Resource officers are asking for public assistance after finding a dead bear wearing a red dog leash on Highway 3 this weekend.

Found in a ditch roughly 12 km out of the city on Saturday afternoon, the bear was largely picked over. According to an ENR Facebook post, the “dead bear ... had been heavily scavenged by birds and other wildlife” and was wrapped in a tan canvas tarp.

“ENR is seeking the public’s assistance to locate the person or people responsible. Under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to waste, destroy or abandon a wild animal such as a black bear,” the post stated.

In an email response ENR spokesperson Joslyn Oosenbrug said it appeared like the bear was moved the location.

"This is based on the dog leash being around its neck and the fact that it was wrapped in a tarp. After gathering evidence, ENR officers disposed of the bear. We have not received any information from the public as of yet," she said.

ENR wasn’t immediately available for comment. If readers have any knowledge of the case, they can reach ENR North Slave Regional Office at 1-867-767-9238 ext. 53258, or the toll-free number at 1-866-762-2437.