In early July 2008, after missing for two days, Big Ears returned to Coyote Hill.  She had been injured. The wound was consistent with the type of traumatic burn injury that is caused by a Bear-Scare dart shot at close range.

A cruel and heavy-handed form of punishment inflicted on a slight, 25lb animal, whose health was already compromised by malnutrition. 

Big Ears became habituated to humans and human-use areas when she and her littermates were fed by Park personnel and visitors.

"There is something grotesquely wrong and  unethical when people choose to address a problem they essentially created in such a hienous manner.  It's a frightening commentary on the abuse of power in some agencies that operate under the umbrella of sovereign immunity." ~ Paglieri