Pedals the beloved walking black bear ‘has been shot dead by hunters’

Pedals, an adorable black bear famous for walking like a human, has reportedly been shot dead.

The bear first became a social media sensation in 2014, when he was filmed taking a stroll on his hind legs in Oak Ridge, New Jersey – apparently because of deformities on his paws.

Since then the locals have grown to love him, describing him as a friendly chap who liked to check out the neighbourhood’s rubbish bins for snacks.

But he has this week reportedly been killed by a bow hunter, according to locals Sabrina Pugley and Lisa Rose Rublack.

The two women apparently emailed ABC News saying, ‘PEDALS IS DEAD’.
Pugsley told the station that a group of hunters saw Pedals’ body at a bear weigh station in the Green Pond neighbourhood on Monday evening.

The bear, they said, had similar deformities on its paws to Pedals.

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When asked to comment on Pedals’ alleged death, the NJ DEP released a statement saying: ‘While the Division appreviates the concern for the bear, it has no way of verifying the identity of any bear that has not been previously tagged or had a DNA sample previously taken.’

Black bear hunting is legal in New Jersey. In the first four days of the state’s bear hunting season 432 bears were killed, state officials said.