Updated

Colorado wildlife officers have killed a mother bear and her two cubs after the cubs broke into a home.

The bears got into the house Tuesday after pushing down on the door handle. Retired state District Judge Richard Hall says the bears rummaged through his trash and opened a drawer. The cubs fled through a window when he yelled at them.

The three bears ran to a nearby house and eventually up a pine tree. State wildlife officers tranquilized and euthanized them.

Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman Michael Seraphin says the bears had to be euthanized because they likely would have entered another house. Area residents had reported seeing the bears earlier milling around the neighborhood and entering a garage.

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Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com