Injured black bear euthanized on Route 495 in Middleboro

MIDDLEBORO — Traffic on Route 495 in Middleboro was halted Thursday morning after an injured black bear was reported in the median of the highway.

At 11:10 a.m., Massachusetts State Police reported that a car struck a black bear on the highway. Staff from the Massachusetts Environmental Police and MassWildlife arrived at the scene and tranquilized the bear, according to MassWildlife's Communications Coordinator Emily Stolarski.

Wildlife experts examined the bear and determined the animal "sustained significant injuries" and could not be relocated away from the highway. The Large Animal Response Team ultimately euthanized the bear.

According to MassWildlife, black bears are becoming more common in Massachusetts.

Last week, a black bear weighing nearly 200 pounds was reported in a Brockton resident's backyard and Brockton city officials advised residents to be on alert for black bears going through their trash.

Behind-the-scenes look: Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a Brockton firefighter?

"We've lived here for 22 years now and we've never seen a bear around here, ever," said Kyle Boucher, the resident who picked up footage of that bear roaming his yard at 4:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17.

In June 2021, a black bear was spotted in several towns across southern Massachusetts - from Taunton, to Middleborough, to Attleboro. The 2- to 3-year-old bear was nicknamed Boo Boo, and animal control experts said residents should avoid any contact with him.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Middleboro: Black bear on Route 495 hit by car, euthanized