TL;DR
Newly released municipal and state records obtained by WIRED detail the 2014 discovery of a dead black bear cub in Central Park and the response by park staff and state wildlife investigators. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. later acknowledged disposing of the cub and described doing so to stage a fake cyclist hit, while the state closed its inquiry in 2014 for lack of evidence and because legal time limits had passed.
What happened
On October 6, 2014, New York City park staff discovered a deceased black bear cub under a bush near West 69th Street in Central Park. Internal emails released via public-records requests show Urban Park Rangers and Parks Department employees coordinating with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the NYPD about the scene. Photographs and on-scene notes describe the cub lying on its side with visible wounds; a rangers’ report recorded multiple injuries to the body, rear legs, and jaw. A NYDEC wildlife health biologist later conducted a necropsy and concluded the cub — a female about seven to eight months old — died of massive blunt-force trauma consistent with a motor vehicle strike, with severe spinal, limb, and skull damage and brain tissue present in the airway. WIRED’s documents also note the carcass went to a state lab near Albany rather than the Bronx Zoo for examination. In August 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly said he had left the cub in Central Park in 2014 and described his motives; his spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. The NYDEC closed its investigation in late 2014, citing insufficient evidence and noting a one-year statute of limitations for the relevant offenses.
Why it matters
- A public figure admitted to disposing of wildlife in a major city, raising questions about legal and ethical accountability.
- Records show municipal workers and state investigators had to manage the scene and examine the animal’s remains, underscoring operational impacts on public agencies.
- The necropsy findings indicate severe trauma and identify the cub’s probable origin area, informing wildlife-management and roadkill-response considerations.
- Closure of the investigation due to lack of evidence and statute of limitations highlights limits on retroactive enforcement in wildlife cases.
Key facts
- Discovery date: October 6, 2014 — a dead black bear cub found near West 69th Street in Central Park.
- Internal Parks Department emails beginning at 10:16 a.m. that day document coordination among Urban Park Rangers, NYPD, and the Central Park Conservancy.
- On-scene rangers’ notes reported multiple injuries to the cub’s body, rear legs, and jaw.
- NYDEC wildlife health biologist Kevin Hynes performed a necropsy and concluded cause of death was massive blunt-force trauma consistent with a motor vehicle strike.
- Necropsy details included spinal fractures, broken legs, severe skull fractures, and brain tissue found in the mouth, trachea, and upper bronchus.
- The cub was identified as a female approximately seven to eight months old and described as having been healthy before death.
- NYDEC investigators hypothesized the animal may have been struck along the lower Route 87 portion of the New York State Thruway near the NY/NJ border (Rockland or Orange County).
- The carcass was taken to a state laboratory near Albany for examination rather than to the Bronx Zoo as initially discussed.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly acknowledged in August 2024 that he left the cub in Central Park in 2014 and said he did so to make the death appear as a cyclist hit-and-run; his representative did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.
- NYDEC closed its inquiry in late 2014 due to insufficient evidence to determine whether state laws were violated and noted the one-year statute of limitations for the cited offenses.
What to watch next
- Whether any new investigation or legal action will be initiated in response to the 2024 admission: not confirmed in the source.
- Any statements or official responses from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or his representatives beyond the lack of comment reported: not confirmed in the source.
- Potential policy changes or procedural updates by parks or wildlife agencies regarding handling of roadkill or illegally transported wildlife: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Necropsy: A postmortem examination of an animal’s body to determine cause of death and document injuries or disease.
- NYDEC: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the state agency responsible for environmental regulation and wildlife management.
- Urban Park Rangers: Parks Department personnel who patrol and manage urban parklands, respond to incidents, and coordinate with other agencies on-field matters.
- Statute of limitations: A legally defined time period within which authorities can initiate criminal or civil proceedings relating to an alleged offense.
Reader FAQ
Did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admit to leaving the bear in Central Park?
Yes; in August 2024 he said he had left the cub in Central Park in 2014 and described the circumstances in a public video.
Was the cub examined and what did officials find?
A NYDEC wildlife health biologist conducted a necropsy concluding the cub died from massive blunt-force trauma consistent with a vehicle strike, with extensive skeletal and cranial injuries.
Was anyone charged or prosecuted in 2014?
The NYDEC closed its investigation in late 2014 for lack of sufficient evidence; the source reports the statute of limitations for the relevant offenses is one year.
Where did the bear likely come from?
NYDEC investigators suggested a possible origin near the lower Route 87 portion of the NYS Thruway around the NY/NJ border (Rockland or Orange County), based on species range and evidence.
Did city agencies respond to the scene?
Yes; Urban Park Rangers, NYPD, and NYDEC personnel coordinated on-site, documented the carcass, and arranged transfer of the remains to a state lab.
CAROLINE HASKINS SCIENCE JAN 7, 2026 11:24 AM New Records Reveal the Mess RFK Jr. Left When He Dumped a Dead Bear in Central Park Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says…
Sources
- New Records Reveal the Mess RFK Jr. Left When He Dumped a Dead Bear in Central Park
- RFK Jr. admits to dumping a dead bear in Central Park …
- RFK Jr. may have faced $250 fine for dumping dead bear …
- Dead bear another strange twist in RFK Jr's faltering …
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