MANHATTAN — The black bear cub found dead under bushes in Central Park was likely killed by a car, state investigators with the Department of Environmental Conservation found Tuesday.
The 6-month-old female baby bear, which weighed 44 pounds, died of blunt force trauma "consistent with a motor vehicle collision," a DEC spokeswoman said of the necropsy finding.
"The case continues to be an open DEC enforcement investigation," Lori Severino said.
The bear was found by the roadside on West Drive near West 69th Street by neighbors who were walking their dogs Monday morning about 10 a.m.
Severino said that the state agency is looking into violations of Environmental Conservation Law that prohibits possession, transport and disposal of an untagged bear.
The bear's origins remain a mystery. Central Park Zoo officials confirmed Monday that none of their bears were missing.