At daybreak, there were already a few local news sites and blogs covering the strange findings in Trabuco Canyon. By mid-morning, the story is all over Southern California. By noon, it's on CNN.
A polar bear has been discovered, dead, in the canyon. The killing wound was a slice across the neck, but there are also several burns on the animal's fur, especially around the area of the wound. The wound itself is cauterized.
A single set of footprints has been identified. The gait indicates a man about six feet tall, weighing about 200 pounds. There were no witnesses to the event itself, and the bear was discovered by hikers early Wednesday morning.