Mutilated Bear Found on Road in Orange County

Two residents in Orange County recently discovered a bear on the side of the road with a gunshot to its head and its paws cut off.

Over the last few weeks, we have shared numerous stories surrounding bears and folks spotting them in areas they don't normally roam. A resident in Dutchess County captured a bear on video that was just roaming the streets in a populated neighborhood. Police in Orange County had to temporarily shut down a popular park recently after residents reported seeing a black bear up a tree.

Thankfully, neither of these encounters ended the way a recent bear sighting did in the hamlet of Highland Mills, NY.

Mutilated Bear Discovered in Orange County, NY

According to a News 12 report, two women made a gruesome discovery last week while driving on Route 32 in Orange County, NY. The report stated that Highland Mills residents Eileen Novick and Susan Garcia discovered a dead bear on the side of Route 32, and when they stopped to investigate, they reported that the bear was shot in the head, and both of its front paws were cut off.

SEE ALSO: Man Hospitalized After Black Bear Attack in Upstate New York

The women proceeded to call the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to report the finding, which led to an investigation.

Bear Investigation Reveals Cause of Death in Orange County, NY

Following the notification, the DEC investigated the bear find and confirmed that the bear was struck and killed by a vehicle in an accident that took place back on September 20th, 2025, along a section of Route 32. Town of Cornwall Police Chief Joseph Gebert told News 12 that the driver involved in the crash remained at the scene and that officers reported that damage to the vehicle was consistent with hitting a bear.

Gebert also said that when officers discovered the bear, it was deceased, with both of its paws intact, so they dragged it to the side of the road and notified the DEC, which later confirmed that both of the bear’s paws were removed. It's unclear who removed the paws or shot the bear, but the DEC confirmed that it's illegal to possess bear parts in New York without a permit. Violators can be fined up $250.

This is an active investigation, so the DEC is asking anyone who has any information regarding what happened to the bear to please contact them at 844-332-3267.