Man who shot bear near house charged by DEP

Boston Globe ^ | 6.12.03

[mhking]

WEST MILFORD, N.J. (AP) A homeowner who shot a large bear that was drawn to his house by the smell of sizzling pork chops was charged Thursday with unlawfully injuring an animal.

The state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife cited Patrick Flynn Jr. for shooting a 400-pound black bear that entered his yard last week.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[John Beresford Tipton]

"was shot in the rear at a range of about 15 yards, indicating it was retreating when Flynn pulled the trigger"

"Yeah, but Sarge, I thought the bear was reaching for a gun."

[Husker24]

I didnt even know that there were Bears in New Jersy.

[TheCrusader]

When a 400 pound bear is in your yard it's not exactly like you're out there hunting illegally. Any wild beast that big is a danger to life and limb, even if it is walking away. It could turn and charge at any time, it could come back later and kill you, it could saunter over to a neighbor's yard and kill somebody else. What is this darn country coming to when you can't shoot a huge bear who decides to pay your property a little visit?

[Thinkin' Gal]

The bear was shot in the rear at a range of about 15 yards, indicating it was retreating when Flynn pulled the trigger

'Friend of Frank' ping.

[Larry Lucido]

Evidently, next time we have to wait 'till it's in our living room

Or, shoot it on the lawn and then drag it inside.

[George from New England]

bull crap.

The DEP will tell the half of the truth that suits their needs.

I'll bet this bear was shot mulitple times. Probably first face on and then on its way out, just to be sure.

You'll never hear the facts on this one.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Now that's funny!

[Larry Lucido]

Well, I keep hearing that it works with human trespassers. :-)

[bjcintennessee]

...was shot in the rear at a range of about 15 yards, indicating that it was retreating when Flynn pulled the trigger.

That doesn't mean the bear would not circle round and perhaps come back when it perceived there was less of a threat -- like maybe when a child was playing alone in the yard while eating a hot-dog or something equally as palletable to a bear?

A black bear in my backyard? I'd have shot the beast coming or going, and called it self-defense out of fear it would come back when me or mine were less vigilant.

[LasVegasMac]

The bear was shot in the rear at a range of about 15 yards, indicating it was retreating when Flynn pulled the trigger, DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell said.

Close enough for me - front or ass end.

What do these clowns want, headlines like - "Bear terrorizes household - kills 2 pets, mauls son - in critical condition. But the bear is safe!"

I have killed two dogs - with my gun! - gulp!

Both times, walk out the front door and there is MR IMA BAD ASS dog - confrontation city.

The trusty 20 Ga. (00 load) was the quick and final "solution" to that issue. Cops had no problem -stray dog - attitude, etc.

I don't fault the home owner one bit. Wild animal = should not be here / my property / threatening behavior (defined as a bit more than 15 yards proximity to me) = BANG!

This guy is getting screwed by the enviro-nazi's.

LVM

[DeepDish]

A homeowner who shot a large bear that was drawn to his house by the smell of sizzling pork chops


Too bad he didn't drop it, he already had the grill fired
up. Yum yum.

[fish hawk]

A friend of mine that has a cabin in the Rockies in Colorado had a bear completely tear up his new jeep. I mean the seats , rag top and bit through two tires and ruined them. He went to complain to the fish and game and he told them he got a gun and some ammo and was going to kill the bear the next time he saw it. The F.& G said if he did they would arrest him and put him in jail with a stiff fine. They said don't kill the bear and we will pay for all the damages on your jeep. And guess what , they did. Your tax dollars at work in Colorado.

[StatesEnemy]

What is this darn country coming to when you can't shoot a huge bear who decides to pay your property a little visit?

I think we all know the answer to that little query.
We are being 'primed' for a soft dictatorship.

[Oztrich Boy]

The bear was shot in the rear at a range of about 15 yards, indicating it was retreating when Flynn pulled the trigger

Yet when the cops shoot a drunk EIGHT times in the back, it's "within the department guidelines".

[myprecious]

I have a cousin that moved to Alaska. She was in the garden planting vegetables and hear a noise behind her. She looked up and saw a grizzly bear coming at her. Luckily there was a ladder out for spring projects and she scampered up onto the roof. (If she had run into the house the Griz would have just come in the house for "dinner".)

She sat up on the roof until her husband came home that evening. She yelled out to him and he jumped back into the car and went to a neighbors house to get a gun. When he returned, the coast looked clear. Suddenly, the bear charged and was shot.

The state authorities were called in to assess the situation. My cousins could reasonably claim self defense and not be in trouble. In that case the carcass would be turned over to the state for evalutation and disposal. However, there was a narrow Grizzly hunting season in effect. By paying the $100 fine for failure to have the Griz stamp, they could keep the meat.

All the neighbors pitched in the cover the fine and had a huge BBQ.

[Husker24]

Im glad I dont live in an area where I have to worry about possibly being eaten by something.

[motzman]

West Milford is in Norwestern Passaic county NJ. Very heavily wooded and mountainous. Beautiful area.

Two bear stories for you:

1) In 1997, I moved from Nanuet NY to Greenwood Lake NY (1 mile from the NJ border, a few miles away from West Milford). The night I signed the lease for the "house" I rented (it was actually a log cabin on Greenwood Lake) I decided to take the back way to Nanuet through the Mountains.

At the very top of the mountain, just as I was starting to go downhill, I saw what appeared to be an extremely large dog running out of the woods towards the road, right in front of my car. I braked hard and swerved to miss the "dog", but it kept coming and ran head first into the left front quarter panel of my Altima. Right before impact, I noticed that it was NOT a dog but a very large bear. I kept on going and went a good mile down the road before I stopped to inspect for damages. Crushed up the front qp pretty good, but the car was drivable. A kid who was a bit behind me when I hit the bear stopped when I stopped, and jumped out to see if I was OK. He was freaking out, he got a much better look at the bear, and told me there was an even larger one chasing the first bear! We both skeedaddled outta there fast!

2) In March of 1999, my best friend and his wife bought a new house in Ringwood NJ (which borders West Milford) and were working late into the night fixing up the basement, and doing all those chores you do when you first buy a house. He went upstairs and into the garage to the refrigerator where he keeps the beer to take a break (it was about 11 pm). He opens up the door leading from the house into the garage, and lo and behold, there a huge Mama bear leaning against his wife's car eating frozen pizzas. The bear had gone into the refrigerator (they had left the garge door open) and "helped herself". He called me immediately after this happened, laughing his you-know-what off.

The problem with these bears is that they have no fear of humans and will go through your garbage and into your house without a second thought. In fact, the local cable channels always broadcast reminders to NOT call 911 about bear sightings. If people did, they would be overwhelmed with calls.

New Jersey has it all!

[Husker24]

Hell, I didnt even realise that there were mountains in New Jersy also, I always just pictured it as one big urban sprawl.