Pedals (died October 2016, New Jersey, United States) was an American black bear (Ursus americanus) that walked upright on its hind legs[1] because of injuries on its front paws.[2] After videos of the bear were posted on the internet, more than 300,000 people signed a petition to move the bear to a wildlife sanctuary. However, Pedals appears to have been one of hundreds of bears killed by bullets or arrows in October 2016 in New Jersey's first sanctioned bow-and-arrow hunt in four decades.
Pedals was first spotted walking upright in 2014 in Oak Ridge, New Jersey,[1][3] spurring debate and discussions.[1][4][5] Videos of Pedals' bipedal walking were posted to the internet and he was described as an "internet sensation".[2] Officials initially warned that the videos might be a hoax.[3]
Over 300,000 people concerned with Pedals' welfare signed a petition written by Lisa Rose Rublack to relocate the bear to the Orphaned Wildlife CenterinOtisville, New York.[6][7] Supporters donated $22,000 to a fund created by Sabrina Pugsley to move the bear to the sanctuary to prevent it from struggling to survive in the wild.[8] New York officials opposed the transfer of Pedals to the sanctuary.[7]
Pedals' internet fame led Angi Metler, director of the Bear Education and Resource Group, to believe he would be targeted by bear hunters.[2][11] In October 2016, reports of Pedals being killed by a hunter received widespread attention.[1][12] On October 17, 2016, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced they believed Pedals had been killed during the officially sanctioned hunt.[13] The October 10–15 hunt was New Jersey's first sanctioned bow and arrow hunt since the 1960s.[13] During the hunt, which also permitted muzzle-loading rifles, a total of 562 bears were killed.[2][14]
In response to the killing, State SenatorRaymond Lesniak introduced a bill dubbed "Pedals' Law" that would ban black bear hunting in New Jersey for five years.[15][16]
In December 2016, a hunter filed a defamation lawsuit in Morris County Superior Court alleging he was falsely accused on social media of being Pedals' killer, suffered death threats, and had his personal information published.[17]
