The bruin had at least three gunshot wounds, all of which were a few days old, said Soldotna Fish and Game biologist Jeff Selinger. The bear had an entrance and exit wound on its right front paw, a wound on its left rump that turned into dead tissue and, once the bear had been skinned, biologists found a wound in its gut from a small caliber gun.
Selinger said the bear was on its last legs and just looking for a place to curl up and die. When he arrived on scene, people were lining up on the road, crowding the guardrail and even climbing over it, coming to within 30 yards of the bear, Selinger said."One individual was throwing rocks at the bear so he could get a picture," he said. "It was not a good situation. I made a note of how it was moving. It was obvious it was injured."
Selinger called Soldotna police and Alaska Wildlife Troopers to assist with the situation. An officer from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge also assisted.
There were reports of a sow and two cubs in the area of Mackey Lake, Selinger said, and it was possible the injured bear was one of those cubs. He said he was concerned that the sow was in the area and would charge.
A lot of people were at the scene, including tourists. Many were on cell phones telling friends to see the bear, he said. Once the bear was dead, people wanted to take their kids down to see it.
"They essentially cornered it," he said.
If this bear was shot in defense of life and property, it was never reported, Selinger said. From the locations of the wounds, particularly the ones on the rump and side, he said it was shot as it was moving away from someone.
So far this year, at least five DLPs have been reported to Fish and Game. There have been two agency killings, Selinger said, and an illegal harvest. If a bear is shot and no defense of life and property reason can be determined, he said there would be an investigation and wildlife troopers would take over the case.
Someone who shoots a bear in defense of life and property but doesn't report it within 15 days can be cited for failure to report. Also, there are laws against harassing wildlife, and Selinger said the person who threw rocks could be fined for taking it illegally and would be responsible for any injuries to others if the bear charged.
Larry Lewis, Fish and Game wildlife technician, said people can be charged with negligence if they make an unreasonable intrusion onto a bear's turf. Someone who shoots a bear because it got into garbage not properly stored or because he or she approached it would be engaging in an unlawful manner and could be charged for it, Lewis said. The rock-thrower had intent to alter the animal's behavior and was acting in an unlawful manner, he said.
"Alaska's not a petting zoo," Lewis said. "(We have) dangerous creatures. People need to respect animals' personal space."
Seward woman attacked
In another bear incident, a bear mauled a Seward woman at Skilak Lake at about 11 a.m. Friday, Lewis said. Jenne Danzl, 54, was picking morel mushrooms at the south side of Skilak Lake with Roger Long, also of Seward, when she was charged from behind by an adult brown bear.
"They had just joked around about this bear scat and she heard a grunt, turned around and looked behind her and saw a bear in charge toward her," Lewis said.
There were two smaller bears with the bear that charged. He said it's possible they were cubs.
"(The bear) stood up on its hind legs. (Danzl) dropped down into a fetal position and protected the back of her neck with one arm and stomach with the another arm and went quiet."
Lewis said the bear bit Danzl in her kidney area and gave her a gash on the buttocks. Danzl also sustained cuts and bruises on her right arm.
Long yelled at the animal to distract it, waving a branch to make himself look bigger and was able to drive the bear off. Danzl received treatment at Central Peninsula Hospital and was released.
Lewis said bears will choose fight or flight if they feel their space has been violated. Once Danzl eliminated the threat by dropping into a fetal position, the bear moved off, but not before giving a backward glance.
"That's really classic, these animals will stop and look back and see if they're still under threat and if they are, fight or flight kicks in again. Unfortunately, what happens more is fight," Lewis said.
"We've got way too many stories about these kinds of things with people not giving that animal the opportunity to leave the area. They will defend their space, which includes any perceived or real threats to young or a food source."
Jessica Cejnar is a reporter for the Peninsula Clarion.
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Homer Alaska - News -
Story last updated at
11:11 PM on
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Injured bear killed in Soldotna
By Jessica Cejnar
Morris News Service - Alaska
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