Bears escape

December 12, 2003 12:00 am

The Associated Press
(Natural Bridge-AP) -- Two Himalayan bears escaped from the Natural Bridge Zoo -- and the zoo owner shot one of them to death after he crashed through a window of a nearby home.

Rockbridge County authorities say the bears escaped last night. The male bear crashed into Russell Smith's house. As Smith rushed out of his house, he saw the female bear near his porch.

Zoo owner Carl Morgenson killed the male bear after efforts to tranquilize him failed. The other bear is still loose, and might be suffering from injuries.