Bear Plots revenge After Being Shot in the Butt with BeanbagsMay 16, 2010
MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. - In another act of official oppression, officials shot a 12-year old after he was caught stealing honey from a neighbor. And it was a problem because this 12-year old - was a bear.
Wildlife experts believe the black bear came out of hibernation about two weeks ago. And, because it's getting older, it went looking for an easy source of food. State Fish & Wildlife crews caught the 400-pound beast on Saturday - after residents in Maple Valley complained it was getting a little too close for comfort.
"He's been coming in three nights now to tear my beehives up," says Jerry Bowan. Even though only a beehive was destroyed, wildlife officials didn't want to take any chances. So they used doughnuts (Krispy Kreme) to lure the creature into a large barrel-shaped container - and then used tranquilizers to sedate him.
After waking the bear, officials released him where he'd been caught, but shot it with bean bags as they chased into the woods. The chase was directed by a barking Karelian bear dog and and accompanied with loud firecrackers. "Get that bear, get that bear, ho, ho!" shouted the dog.
Wildlife experts say this gives the bear a natural fear of humans and their habitat. It doesn't do much for the dog's respecting its owners, either.
"It's probably going to look disturbing to other bears who view this, but by releasing this bear here, it's going to grow up, continue its life where it grew up, and spread the word to the other bears," says Bruce Richards with the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/93901679.html
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