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

Pedals, the beloved injured bear who walked upright on hind legs, has reportedly been killed.

Pedals gained a large following on the internet thanks to videos and photos of the bruin walking upright through North Jersey backyards.

According to Sabrina Pugsley, the administrator of a Facebook page that allows people to follow Pedals online, the bear was shot with an arrow and brought to the state weigh station at the Greenpond Golf Course in Rockaway.

Pugsley said in an interview that Pedals was killed on Monday, the first day of the state-sanctioned, extended bear hunt that ends Saturday.

Pedals Through The Years — A Look Back At The Life Of New Jersey's Famous Walking Bear

The state Division of Fish and Wildlife, which oversees the hunt, issued a statement Thursday that it has no way of verifying whether a specific bear has been killed during the hunt.

"While the Division appreciates 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," it said.

Pugsley said she was told by several hunters at the weigh station that the hunter who allegedly killed Pedals was bragging about it. He allegedly saw the bear on footage he filmed of him so he knew where to find him, Pugsley said.

"I've seen Pedals numerous times in person," Pugsley said. "I would have hoped there would be a more sympathetic reaction from someone who had a chance to shoot him."

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. The animal is missing part of his front, right leg and his left front paw is injured. This forces the bear to walk on his hind legs.

Pugsley said Pedals was last seen 10 days ago near the weigh station where his body was allegedly brought.

"We knew he was up there in that area," Pugsley said. "I'm disgusted, upset and disappointed. There were other options."

Nearly $23,000 was donated online via a GoFundMe page that was launched to try to get Pedals help. A group of community members launched a fundraiser last year with the goal of bringing the bear to a wildlife sanctuary in upstate New York. Members of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife could not find Pedals.

For all the times Pedals was spotted, there were never any reports that he attacked or was aggressive toward anyone.

As of Friday afternoon, 432 bears have been killed in the state hunt so far.

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Photo: YouTube screenshot