Wildlife officials had to euthanize the bear because it had become accustomed to humans.

"We are a wildlife agency and we love wildlife and we protect wildlife, but not at the expense of human safety," said Alan Clark, assistant director of the DWR. "When a bear becomes too acclimated to people and from getting human food there is no solution to resolve that. When it comes to a question of do we keep people or wildlife safe, we choose people."

The unidentified man was asked in late July to stop feeding the 2-year-old female bear frequenting his property near the mouth of Whiterocks Canyon on the south slope of the Uinta Mountains and to cooperate with Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) officials.

"We asked him to please discontinue the practice because what he was doing was a public safety concern," said Lt. Torrey Christophersen, who oversees wildlife law enforcement for the DWR in the state's northeastern region.

The man never admitted to conservation officer Maryann Wangsgard that he was feeding the bear, but he "did get very belligerent and told us we couldn't tell him what to do on his property," Christophersen said.

State officials are legally allowed to access private property in such wildlife cases, but decided to work with surrounding landowners in this situation.

The bear was trapped in early August and was euthanized by wildlife biologists.

The state is more sensitive about bear-human interactions since the death of 11-year-old Sam Ives, killed by a black bear in American Fork Canyon last summer. Biologists say the bear that killed Ives had likely found human food in the campsite prior to his arrival and returned expecting to find more.

The Whiterocks Campground is easily within traveling distance of a wild black bear.

Christopherson said the wildlife agency is confident it trapped the same bear that had been visiting the illegal feeding station. Archery bear hunters are allowed to use bait during the season, but they must first obtain a permit for the station from the DWR.

Word of a private landowner feeding bear near Whiterocks Canyon first reached the wildlife agency last year, but no one would identify the landowner.

Concerned citizens confirmed his identity in July and the DWR responded immediately.

Christophersen said the Uintah County attorney is investigating the case. Possible charges include harassing wildlife and endangering the public.

"It was a case where the individual may not have intended any harm to the bear and just wanted to be able see it, but the animal still ended up being dead," Christophersen said. "This is a case where we are involved because of the safety issues for humans and for wildlife. People can't intentionally or unintentionally feed bears or [the bears] will end up dead."