Road workers claim responsibility for bear found dead in Arlington – NBC4 Washington

A black bear found dead in Arlington on Friday was struck and killed by a crew hired by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington said Monday.

The workers, who are not VDOT employees, said they struck the bear while traveling on Interstate 66 in Prince William County. They told authorities they took the dead bear to Arlington and dumped it above an overpass on the Custis Memorial Trail.

Sonia Nayer was a woman walking with her son and dog near Spout Run when she spotted the bear in a plastic bag.

“As I got closer, I saw hair and an ear sticking out of the bag,” she said. “And at that moment I was in shock.”

The animal control director said it was the first time in her 13-year tenure that she had received reports of a dead bear in Arlington County.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources will decide whether to charge the workers for beating the bear and illegally disposing of the carcass.

VDOT said it is investigating the matter and working with authorities.