Some Say Man Justified In Shooting Bear That Was Attacking His Dog
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - A man who shot and killed a bear in his Fort Collins backyard is expected to face charges.
The shooting happened last week in the Fossil Creek Meadows neighborhood. The man says he was trying to protect his dog from the bear. It's illegal to kill wildlife, even if a pet is in danger.
The fact that he fired a weapon in a neighborhood with others nearby is what investigators with Colorado Parks and Wildlife say accounts for the third charge he faces, alleging the man was careless in his actions.
CBS4's Lauren DiSpirito spoke with some people who see the situation differently.
"I think it's kind of funny that you can protect your car but you can't protect your pet," Dennis Highman of Fort Collins said. "They might need to rewrite that one."
Under Colorado law, Parks and Wildlife says residents are protected if they shoot and kill a bear to protect themselves, their home, car or livestock; but not if a bear is attacking a dog.
"I really love my dog, and if a bear was attacking it I'd probably do the same thing," another Fort Collins resident said.
Word of the charges surprised people on Worthington Avenue who saw a different bear sleeping in a neighborhood tree nearly all day Saturday.
Andrew Richards, who is identified in police records CBS4 obtained, told police he shot the bear one time with a rifle. After looking into the death, Parks and Wildlife decided to charge him, saying pets are not included in Colorado's statue.
Richards is being charged with three misdemeanors -- unlawful take of wildlife, unlawful possession of wildlife, and unlawful discharge of firearm in a careless manner. Fines and penalties will be decided by the district attorney.
"There were not extenuating circumstances where he would have been allowed to shoot this bear," Jennifer Churchill with Parks and Wildlife said. "We consider this animal-on-animal."
It was the first of two bears to die in Fort Collins in as many days. Investigators believe the bear spotted on Worthington Avenue on Saturday is the same bear that turned up dead on Shields Street early Sunday, likely struck and killed by vehicles.
Highman says the deaths are unfortunate, but the charges are unfair.
"Because he was probably as scared as anybody else would be when you walkout, then he was probably right in doing that," he said.
