3 bears euthanized after destroying property in Durango

State wildlife officials have euthanized three bears that caused extensive damage to homes and cars in a Durango neighborhood.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Joe Lewandowski says a sow and two yearlings were shot Saturday after one of them broke into a car.

Residents had reported over the last few weeks that bears were breaking house windows, tearing doors off garages and breaking into vehicles.

Lewandowski tells The Durango Herald that the agency had no choice but to shoot the animals because they had become habituated to humans and human food and would have continued to cause problems.

The last time Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials shot and killed a bear in Durango was last summer after the animal bit two men who were camping.

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Information from: Durango Herald, http://www.durangoherald.com