We have had quite a day over here on Stonewall Avenue. Around 5 this morning, Nick and I were awakened by gunshots and a sheriff's car in the street outside our house. Nick went outside to figure out what was going on and found out that a bear had broken into our neighbor's screened-in porch. My neighbor thought they were being robbed, went to check it out and saw that the bear had broken the screen, was sitting on her porch and eating her trash. So she called 911. By the time the game warden came--or as we've come to call him, That Mothertrucker--the bear had climbed the tree. That's when he shot her.
My neighbor was told that wildlife officers are no longer allowed to carry tranquilizers and so that was why the officer felt he had to shoot the mama bear. They didn't realize until afterwards that the bear had 3 cubs that were up in the tree with her. This was the sad part. Now, I can totally see the need to get rid of a bear that is practically breaking into a home but it just makes me so mad that the 3 baby bear cubs are now left without a mama. These guys spent most the morning in this tree. It was so sad.
They seemed so freaked out and not sure where to go.
A little later, the wildlife officer and a biologist came back to try to trap the cubs. They set up a huge trap and eventually, after about 4 hours, they caught two of them. It was pretty cool to watch. The 3rd cub is still roaming around the neighborhood. He spent a lot of time in our backyard, up a tree. He climbed right over our fence, the little athlete. Anyway, they are supposed to be coming back tomorrow to try to catch him. The officers were really patient and interested in catching the bears rather than killing them, thank goodness. I think they are taking the bears to Wildlife Rehabilitation but I'm not sure what that is.
Anyway, that was our day. It meant a lot of looking out the window and telling Jack to shut up and grabbing the camera. Not much else going on here in Grovemont. Everyone was out this evening talking about what had happened and looking out for little bear cub #3. It was like a block party. I am hoping they catch him tomorrow so he can get back to roaming around with most of his family. Just hopefully not in our neighborhood.
Update: Thanks for joining me in my outrage and sadness, everyone. I called the wilderness officer (Major Stokes) in Raleigh and let him know what had happened. He was surprised that his officer shot the bear out of the tree with cubs in it but from what he said I am not hopeful that much will change in their handling of situations like this. They did not catch the 3rd bear and we haven't seen him since Wednesday, so I am assuming he made it back to the woods on his own.
Update: Thanks for joining me in my outrage and sadness, everyone. I called the wilderness officer (Major Stokes) in Raleigh and let him know what had happened. He was surprised that his officer shot the bear out of the tree with cubs in it but from what he said I am not hopeful that much will change in their handling of situations like this. They did not catch the 3rd bear and we haven't seen him since Wednesday, so I am assuming he made it back to the woods on his own.
10 comments:
This makes me so sad. Those poor little babies up their crying in the tree! I want to adopt them! I'm glad they are taking them somewhere, but this story just breaks my heart!
I know the crying was awful! I have that on video but I decided it was just too sad to post.
Oh that is so sad! Poor little babies!
i am so sad! I was up thinking about those sweet little babies last night. i told worth about it and he did not have very kind words for the man who murdered (shot) the bear!
rachel can be the babies lawyer too, she has given Atticus excellent representation!
Oh this is so sad.. I am holding back tears! In my parents neighborhood, they aren't allowed to kill momma bears unless they are attacking a human.. so just breaking onto a porch to eat wouldn't have started a killing spree.. heck, the humans should be more careful to know they shouldn't leave something smelling so delicious out to eat.. so sad! I would adopt the baby cubs too! I hope they get the third one and take them somewhere safe and hopefully where they'll be taken care of..
awe, Niki. What drama! I'm very disappointed that the neighbor didn't wait until he got further instruction. It isn't like the bear was more of a threat up in the tree!!!
I'm sending all our sophomores out into the woods up there next week. It sounds like there have been a lot of bears roaming the area! I hope they stay safe!
I can't believe they shot the mama! I mean, it didn't actually break into the house, just the screened in porch. Granted, that would freak me out, but if they had their trash on their porch, then that's their bad. Sounds like a day full of drama!
this is so sad!! ok I am so lame but I was reading this to Matt and totally started crying. When it comes to animals, I just cannot keep it together. those poor little cubs. Have they picked up the 3rd one yet?
o niki, rachel told me about this and so i had to come read it for myself of course.
this is so sad it makes me teary. it's aweful that they can do that. i'm glad you are following up on this. seems like the black bear is protected in our area.
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