I had to drop some stuff off in Boulder today, and decided to take an early hike before my errands. I chose the Gregory Canyon Trailhead which is near the Chautauqua trail systems. Anyways pretty uneventful little hike. Near the end of the trail where it turns into Ranger trail, I smelled something terrible and obviously dead. I figured a deer because the smell was so strong. I turned back when the trail became Ranger trail because I had to leave soon. I look to my right and think I see the source of the smell about 50ft from the trail. Freya started pulling really hard when we went to investigate, I knew we were close. Then there it was... a bear cub, maybe about 75lbs. I took a picture to show the park rangers when I got back. I had a friend with me on this hike as well. We ruled out the possibility of a Mtn. Lion kill because it looked clean of wounds and relatively fresh, big cats don't just leave their kills out in the open like that to decompose, I'm guessing it must have been sickness. When we got back to the car luckily there were two Rangers already there about to head out on a different trail. I told them of the situation and they believe my assumptions of it being sick were probably correct. They said if it turns out to be a Mtn. Lion kill they will just move the body far from the trail, and if it was something else tests are going to be done to determine the cause.  I wish I could know how the poor animal died and hope it wasn't a new disease or something. If I didn't have Freya I would have gone back to help the rangers, but it was starting to break into the 70's by that time. I kind of want to call the station in a few days to see if they know the cause of death.

aw poor baby bear

Aw that's sad I'd be curious to know the cause too.

that's so sad, wonder where the momma was.... that would concern me. i would call the station in a few days and ask, i would want to know. we have never come across something that fresh on a hike.