Dead Bear Cub in Central Park Was Likely Hit by a Car

— -- A black bear cub found dead in New York City’s Central Park Monday was likely run over by a car, authorities said.

The female cub was about 6 months old and weighed 44 pounds, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation said in a statement. The cause of death was blunt force trauma consistent with a motor vehicle collision, authorities said.

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The 3-foot-long black bear cub was discovered by a dog walker, who alerted a Central Park Conservancy worker, police said.

Authorities are still investigating how the bear cub ended up in the park. It’s still unclear whether the bear’s body was dumped there, or whether she wandered into the park while still alive.

Potential Environmental Conservation law violations include the illegal possession, transport and disposal of an untagged bear, environmental conservation officials said.