Germany: first wild bear to appear since 1835 ordered shot or captured

Officials and experts said the bear, which was first spotted in the southern state of Bavaria over the weekend, had to be stopped after it killed seven sheep and raided a chicken coop, suggesting it had learned to hunt food near houses.

Photo: Germany: first wild bear to appear since 1835 ordered shot or captured

The animal was "quite obviously running out of control," state environment minister Werner Schnappauf said.

He said the bear had to be shot or captured alive and removed from the wild, the AP reports.

The bear is believed to have come from a program to reintroduce bears to the wild near Trentino, Italy. Experts say the young male, who weighs about 100 kilograms (220 pounds), probably crossed the Alps in search of a mate.

The bear, which also killed several sheep in Austria, is believed to be the first seen in the wild in Germany since 1835.