In December 2016, three bear cubs and their 300-pound mother were found dead in a Pennsylvania church parking lot, prompting an investigation by local police and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The bears’ deaths were deemed suspicious, with no signs of trauma or bullet wounds.
Post-mortem examinations revealed the cause: poisoning from English yew, a plant toxic to animals and humans. The bears had consumed its leaves and seeds, which contain cardiotoxic alkaloids that disrupt heart function. Testing ruled out other toxins, confirming the plant as the cause of death. Yew toxicity is especially potent in winter, making it a hidden danger for wildlife.