NJ Releases Disturbing Photos Believed To Be 'Pedals,' Bear Feared Dead

The state Division of Fish and Wildlife released photos allegedly showing "Pedals," a beloved bear that was reportedly killed by a bowhunter Oct. 10 during the first state-sanctioned bow and arrow bear hunt in 40 years.

The photos show a 333-pound bear with two injured front paws. The bear is missing part of his front, right leg, and his left paw is injured — injuries that "Pedals" also had, according to video footage.

"As previously stated, bears with a variety of injuries are occasionally brought to weigh stations and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has no way of conclusively verifying the identity of any bear that has not been previously tagged or had a DNA sample previously taken," said Bob Considine, a division spokesman. "However, the injured paws and chest blaze of this particular adult bear brought to Green Pond appear to be consistent with the bear seen walking upright on several videos taken from North Jersey residents over the past two years."

Videos of "Pedals" walking upright were viewed hundreds of thousands of times, making him a favorite of locals. He was first spotted walking on his hind legs in the summer of 2014.

• RELATED: Pedals, The New Jersey Bear That Walked On Two Feet, Is Feared Dead

The bear's death sent shockwaves online and through a now-shut down Facebook page dedicated to him and other hunting pages and blogs online. Alleged posts from hunters who allegedly specifically targeted the bear due to his notoriety appeared online before and after its reported death.

"I'm disgusted, upset and disappointed," Sabrina Pugsley, the administrator of a Facebook page that allows people to follow Pedals online, previously said.

Pugsley and others tried raising money and lobbying state officials to move "Pedals" to a protected wildlife sanctuary in upstate New York, but state officials said they could not find him.

The six-day October bear hunt, for archery and muzzleloaders, concluded on Saturday. A total of 562 bears were harvested.

"New Jersey’s annual black bear hunt is a management hunt, one tool to achieve the state’s goals of having a sustainable bear population amid increased bear-human encounters and property and livestock damage, as well as expanding territories," Considine said. "The northwest quadrant of New Jersey has more black bears per square mile than any other location in North America, as well as one of the nation’s highest bear reproduction rates, due largely to abundant food sources and excellent habitat."

"Pedals" and the publicity surround his reported death may put a temporary end to black bear hunting in the Garden State.

A five-year ban on hunting black bears in was moved through state Senate committee Monday. "Pedals' Law'" would require the DFW to create a five-year plan for controlling the black bear population using non-lethal methods.

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Photos of the bear reportedly known to be Pedals after his body was brought to the state weigh station at the Greenpond Golf Course in Rockaway Monday. Photos courtesy of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.