Southern California homeowner shot and killed bear that frequently wandered the mountain community

A Southern California homeowner shot and killed a neighborhood bear that he claimed was trying to break into his chicken coop last week.

The community on San Bernardino County Mountain is no stranger to bears, who typically pass through their neighborhood but largely avoid people.

Despite lingering concerns in the neighborhood, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the unnamed homeowner was legally permitted to kill the bear, specifically because it was allegedly trying to breach his chicken coop on Wednesday.

Under California Fish and Game code 4181.1 “any bear that is encountered while in the act of inflicting injury to, molesting or killing livestock may be taken immediately by the owner of the livestock.” 

Had the bear been wandering through his yard, the homeowner could have faced legal consequences for not following the state’s regulated process. A permit is required even to kill a bear that is destroying property, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The code concerning livestock damages is one of the only outliers that legally protected the homeowner.

Community members on the mountain said that the particular bear killed by the homeowner often trekked through the neighborhood, but was skittish of people.

“He would just walk up the street and if I opened the door to my cabin, he would run,” neighbor Mike Kutz told KTLA.

“He would not stop and look. He would instantly run.”  

The homeowner said that he had previously reported the bear to the sheriff’s department after it charged at him.

“I’ve done everything I can to prevent this bear. I had an electric fence. The bear went right through it no matter what,” the homeowner told KTLA.

“I had a bunch of deterrents, the bear kept coming. I even bear sprayed him, and he still kept coming.”

Still, the decision to kill the bear reportedly drew some criticism from the community and sparked a fervor online as people mourned the animal.

“I think if fish and game said that it’s justified then it’s justified,” Arrowbear Lake resident Eric Real told KTLA.

“I do love animals, so it does hurt to see a bear get shot over the situation.”