Neighbors React To Bear Cubs Shot 'You Don't Shoot Bears'

EVERGREEN, Colo. (CBS4)- Neighbors are reacting to the Evergreen man who shot and killed two bear cubs early Tuesday morning. That man is facing charges because it is illegal in Colorado to shoot bears to protect your dog.

"I think they should fry this guy. I've lived here more than 20 years and I have more guns than anybody you ever met... you don't shoot bears," said neighbor Rob Kieser.

The man, identified as Daniel Williams, shot at the bears early Tuesday morning in the 27000 block of Lupine Drive. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said they received a call about 5:15 a.m. that a man had shot at the bears.

Williams and his family were awakened by three bears, a mother bear and two cubs, going through their trash outside. Williams fired two rubber buckshot rounds at the bears to scare them off.

Then his dog ran out and he fired a live round which struck the two cubs, killing one of them. The other cub had to be euthanized.

The mother bear ran away and climbed up a tree where she stayed for 15 hours before she climbed down and headed into the woods to mourn her cubs.

Kieser says bears are simply a part of life in Evergreen, "I chase bears out of our trash all the time, it happens. There are a lot of bears this year and they are really hungry. They get up here, there, knocking down people's trash. You don't go after them with a 12-gauge, you go inside and lock the door."

Not everyone thinks that's the best option.

"I can see why he did it if he was scared, yeah, I suppose he was just trying to protect them," said neighbor Chuck Thomas.

Williams is facing six charges, including illegal discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and a wildlife charge because his dog harassed the bears.