Please Don't Shoot the Bears

A Connecticut man learned the hard way Wednesday that it’s illegal in Connecticut to shoot a black bear that wanders into your yard.

John G. Rocha, 82, of Windsor, was arrested by Environmental Conservation officers at his home when they were alerted by Windsor Police that a bear had allegedly been shot and killed on Rocha's property.

The bear, which weighed about 250 pounds and was between 5 and 6 years old, was allegedly shot by Rocha with a .30 caliber rifle after "apparently causing damage to Mr. Rocha's bird feeder" in a tree, officials with the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Wednesday.

The bear was accompanied by a younger bear, described by DEEP officials as a 1-year-old weighing approximately 110 pounds, which was unharmed. The younger bear was tranquilized and relocated to a wooded area of the state by DEEP officials.

Rocha was charged by EnCon with negligent hunting, in addition to the charge of illegally killing a black bear.

DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain said Wednesday that under state law it is illegal to shoot black bears, which is a protected species in Connecticut, unless it is acting in a threatening manner or poses a harm. He said residents who see bears in their yards or near their homes should call their local police.

According to DEEP, Rocha was "released on a promise to appear in Enfield Superior Court on January 17."

Officials did not say Wednesday whether Rocha has a permit for the rifle used to kill the bear.

In Durham, black bears are often spotted in the area of Blue Hills Road and Haddam Quarter Road, according Bruce Rau, the town's animal control officer.

Rau recalled an incident when a bear swatted at a dog and tore down a bird feeder on Haddam Quarter Road and Middlefield Road, but recommends that homeowners only go as far as making noise to scare the animals away.

"Just make noise with the pots and pans," he says. "I tell them if they're afraid, I'll go over and take down their bird feeder."

Rau says bears are attracted to any type of food, including bird feeders or pet food left outside and recommends keeping all food inside.

He's quick to point out that harassing bears is also against the law and may lead to a minimum $500 fine or a minumum six months in jail. 

"They're probably going to make an example out of him," he said.