Tahoe man kills 500 lb. bear in self-defense

[cbp210]

Tahoe man kills 500 lb. bear in self-defense


By Matthew Renda
The Union News Service
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Copyright 2010 The Union. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. November, 30 2010 8:39 am
Tahoe man kills 500 lb. bear in self-defense


The Union
TAHOE CITY — Wildlife officials confirmed this week that a Lake Tahoe man was legally acting in self defense when he used a shotgun to kill a 500-pound bear after the bruin allegedly attacked him 10 days ago inside his Lake Forest restaurant.

On the morning of Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 a.m., William Hunter, co-owner of Bacchi's Inn Restaurant, encountered the large bruin sleeping on the floor of the dining room.

H.H. Hunter, William's wife and restaurant co-owner, said the bear had repeatedly broken into the restaurant, causing more than $800 damage in broken windows over the course of the previous week.

H.H. Hunter said it was lucky her husband had a loaded shotgun he kept at the store due to the recent break-ins. When her husband shouted at the bear to ward him off the premises, the bear allegedly became aggressive and charged William, who was forced to discharge his weapon, killing the bruin.

“He so hated to kill the bear,” said H.H. Hunter. “It was a case of either him or the bear.”

Jason Holley, wildlife biologist supervisor for the North Central Region for the California Department of Fish and Game, confirmed the Hunters were well within their legal rights when shooting the bear.

“The business owner was defending himself,” said Holley. “I'm sure seeing an angry 500-pound wild animal was an intimidating sight.”

Holley said the Hunters had been in discussions with the agency prior to the final break-in and were seeking help with mitigation measures, such as installing electric bear wires around the windows and doors of the property.

Holley said the investigating officer reported nothing improper about the restaurant's trash storage. H.H. said the restaurant has been in her family for 78 years.

“For the most part, securing trash will prevent bears from breaking in, but sometimes there is nothing you can do,” Holley said.

Despite the life or death scenario, Hunter regrets the bear had to be killed.

“Bears are such magnificent animals,” she said.


http://www.theunion.com/article/2010...ntprofile=1053

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[nutz4utwo]

Hunters had been in discussions with the agency prior to the final break-in and were seeking help with mitigation measures

This was good on his part. It shows that he was taking basic steps to stop the problem without shooting everything in sight. Smart!

[tkruf]

Good on them for trying to avoid having to kill the bear, but when you got no choice, you got no choice. I'm glad he wasn't hurt.

[JOHNSMITH]

Good he wasn't hurt, although I'm sure that's a mess to clean up.

I'm glad he didn't believe in the right to arm bears.

[Xader]

Wonder what load he was using...

[Janq]

If I go into any space anywhere and I see a bear laying there, awake or asleep, the last thing I would think to do is to "shout" at it (!?).
I would though reverse step soft & quiet as to _exit_ and from distance call the police to come in with some Steve Irwin type to wrassle it up for me.

- Janq

[HotGuns]

Who you gonna find to wrastle a 500 pound bear?


The only thing I'd wrastle it with is a couple of loads of double ought buck.

[Hiram25]

Bear steaks for dinner tonight!

[LanceORYGUN]

Tahoe man kills 500 lb. bear in self-defense


By Matthew Renda
The Union News Service
Share on Facebook Email Print Comment
Recommend
Copyright 2010 The Union. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. November, 30 2010 8:39 am

Dude, I think that you just violated the Forum rules. You had best delete this text, and just leave the link.

.

[ctsketch]

Let sleeping bears lay.....

[3D]

Ironic last name for the bear-killing restaurant owner don't ya think??!

[hayzor]

Who you gonna find to wrastle a 500 pound bear?

A friend of mine is the county trapper in a neighboring county (in CA). I’d bet that all the surrounding counties have “trappers”. He shoots bears, cougars and plenty of coyotes on a regular basis. He’s even got a pack of dogs used for tracking the creatures that get too close to human society.

Note: I wouldn’t want to face a 500 lb bear w/ anything less than a slug in the shotty.

[paaiyan]

If I go into any space anywhere and I see a bear laying there, awake or asleep, the last thing I would think to do is to "shout" at it (!?).
I would though reverse step soft & quiet as to _exit_ and from distance call the police to come in with some Steve Irwin type to wrassle it up for me.

- Janq

Agreed! 12-gauge slugs or .40 JHP I'm not doing that job. hasn't he ever heard the saying "let sleeping dogs lie"? I would think it applies to bears too.

[ccw9mm]

I like bears, as well. Just not in my home. He (the owner) done good, bruin or not.

[21bubba]

Good he wasn't hurt, although I'm sure that's a mess to clean up.

I'm glad he didn't believe in the right to arm bears.

I see what you did there.