TUPPER LAKE - Rumors were flying around Tupper Lake Wednesday night that a child's foot was found on a softball field at L.P. Quinn Elementary School.

The remains were tested by pathologists at the Adirondack Medical Center today and were found to be the hindquarters of a small bear, said village police Chief Tom Fee.

The remains were reported to police at 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, and state and village police and several school officials went to the scene to investigate.

Tupper Lake Central School District Superintendent Seth McGowan said the foot was mostly just bones with a little flesh attached. In the dark, the remains could have easily looked like a human foot, he said.

"It wouldn't surprise me if someone found a bear foot laying around right now," said Ed Reed, who studies bears for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Reed said this is the time of the year when DEC workers often find yearling bears who are weak after a long winter hibernating in their dens.

"Bear feet do look like human feet," said Don Stunzi of Paul Smiths, who worked with bears for 30 years in Pennsylvania.