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Pedals, beloved upright black bear, feared dead among New Jersey bow hunt

OAK RIDGE, N.J. — Pedals, a well-known biped black bear, is feared among the bruins killed in an extended bow hunting period in New Jersey.

The bear, who has been spotted since 2014, walks upright because it is missing a part of its front leg from an injury, according to WABC-TV.

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"The hunter who has wanted him dead for nearly 3 years had the satisfaction of putting an arrow through him, bragging at the station," according to a Facebook group that monitors the bear. "The very place where they weighed him, examined his legs, confirmed it was 'the bi-pedal.' Where there were two biologists on hand taking many many pictures."

There is no way to confirm the kill since Pedals was never previously tagged, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife said.

"During this current bear hunt period, and in previous bear seasons, there have been multiple bears observed at different check stations with injured or missing limbs. Upon arrival to check stations, bears are weighed and measured around the head. DNA samples are taken and a tooth is extracted to determine the bear's age. But without any prior scientific data taken from a bear, it is not possible to verify the identity of a bear that has been harvested.”