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Bear Paw Mistaken For Decomposing Human Foot At Recycling Center

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) - Police say a body part found at a Southern California recycling center initially believed to be a decomposing human foot has turned out to be a bear paw.

Authorities said the severed foot was found in a trash bag as it went down a conveyor belt Tuesday afternoon at Burrtec Waste Industries in San Bernardino. It was followed by another piece of flesh further down the conveyor belt.

But after an examination, a coroner's anthropologist told San Bernardino police it was actually from a large bear, and the mistake is surprisingly easy to make.

Authorities say it's unclear how long the paw had been in the bag or where it came from. The recycling center receives trash from all around San Bernardino County.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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