A Southern California homeowner shot and killed his neighbor's bear last week as it tried to break into his chicken coop.
The community of San Bernardino-Koriyama is not immune to bears. Bears usually pass through neighborhoods, but avoid most people.
Despite lingering concerns in the neighborhood, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the anonymous homeowner was legally allowed to kill the bear, especially after the bear tried to break into the chicken coop on Wednesday. It was announced that the reason was that
California Fish and Game Code 4181.1 states, “If a bear is encountered during an act that injures, sexually assaults, or kills livestock, the owner of the livestock may immediately capture the bear.”
If a bear had wandered into their yard, the homeowner could have faced legal liability for failing to follow state regulatory procedures. According to the law, permits are also required to kill bears that destroy property. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Livestock damage laws are one of the only outliers that provides legal protection for homeowners.
Local residents in the mountains said the bear, which was killed by the owner of the house, often walked around the neighborhood, but was timid towards people.
“He was just walking down the street and when I opened the shed door, he ran out,” neighbor Mike Kutz said. KTLA.
“He wouldn't stop and look. He would run right away.”
The homeowner said he had earlier called the sheriff's department because the bear had lunged toward him.
“I've been doing everything I can to keep this bear out. I had an electric fence up, and the bear got through it no matter what,” the homeowner told KTLA.
“I had a lot of deterrents, but the bear kept coming. I sprayed him with bear spray, but he still kept coming.”
Still, the decision to kill the bear drew criticism from the community and reportedly sparked an online frenzy as people mourned the bear.
“If they say fish and game are legit, then I think it's legit,” Arrowbear Lake resident Eric Rial told KTLA.
“I love animals, so it pains me to see a bear get shot in this situation.”
