Homeowner who killed bear on his property won’t be charged, California officials say
A homeowner who killed a bear that frequented his property on multiple occasions won’t be charged, California wildlife officials say.
The homeowner reported shooting the 200-pound black bear, estimated to be between 3 and 4 years old, in Arrowbear Lake on Thursday, Nov. 14, Tim Daly with California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a Nov. 19 email to McClatchy News.
At the time of the incident, the bear was destroying livestock, Daly said, adding that he was unsure as to what kind of livestock.
“After an investigation,” officials determined the homeowner was legally justified to shoot the bear under California Code, Fish and Game Code 4181.1., according to Daly.
“The homeowner was protecting his property, and had the right to respond the way they did,” Daly said.
The code stipulates if a livestock owner encounters a bear “in the act of inflicting injury to, molesting, or killing, livestock” it may be taken by the owner. The incident must be reported to the department no later than the next working day.
Daly said wildlife officials picked up the bear’s body the next day.
This incident was not the homeowner’s first encounter with the bear on his property, Daly said.
At one point, the homeowner tried to “scare the bear away;” however, his attempt didn’t work, Daly said.
“When someone calls us regarding wildlife concerns like this, we provide guidance through department biologists (on) how to make the property or livestock less appealing,” Daly said.
The homeowner had made provisions “to make his property and livestock area more secure,” according to Daly.
Some Facebook users were quick to call the incident “terribly sad,” while others questioned why someone would keep livestock in that area.
“Seems strange, like the person was looking to lure the bear there,” the user said.
Resident Eric Real told KTLA that while the incident saddened him, he deferred to the department’s conclusion.
“I think if fish and game said that it’s justified then it’s justified,” Real told the outlet.
Arrowbear Lake, tucked away in the San Bernardino National Forest between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, is about a 90-mile drive northeast from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Homeowner who killed bear on his property won’t be charged, California officials say."
