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 Rocky Hill, no bears or large wild animals have been shot in recent history, according to Animal Control Officer Thomas Phelps.

However, about a year or two ago, police were notified of a disturbance in the woods off of Dividend Road. The animal control officers located a track that could have belonged to a bear, Phelps said.

“They are probably around,” he stated. “But, we have been fortunate not to encounter them.”

Similar to Windsor, Rocky Hill residents would need “a good reason” to shoot a bear, Phelps said. He added the best thing to do is to make noise and get away from them. Bears are very protective of their young and even though they are nocturnal, the animal will feed in the daytime, he noted.

Phelps said food items and rubbish should be contained properly to discourate  bears from coming to your home. Bird feeders should be high enough so bears can't reach them, he added.

“Don’t make it easy for them,” Phelps said.  

Residents here have seen coyotes, fox and deer over the past three years, he added.