Man Facing Charges for Shooting Bear That Was Chasing Him

Charged with illegally killing a bear, illegally baiting a bear, illegal possession of a firearm and failing to secure a weapon.

AUBURN (CBS) – A 76-year-old Auburn man is facing charges after killing a bear in his backyard.

Richard Ahlstrand told WBZ-TV he was stocking his bird feeder Friday night when a bear about seven feet tall and 300-to-400 pounds started chasing him.

That's when he turned his shotgun on the bear.

"I didn't have time to aim through the sights, but I aimed in the direction of the head on this thing and I pulled the trigger before it got to me.  It just dropped," he said.

Comments

[Ron]

I live in this area and theres only three reasons to carry a gun in your own yard while feeding the birds
1. you live next door to pot growers, that is a real and valid reason in this area.
2. you are putting out food to attract the bears and you intended to kill it and claim it was self defense. this has also happened many times.
3. In my specific neck of the woods there is a mountain lion who's cache of dead deer was just found, so I actually thought about carrying my gun when I went to feed the bird last night.

[dalewalt]

"Police don't believe the bear was a threat to people. "

He should have just sat down and talked to the bear to clear up any misunderstandings.

[Thane of Whiterun]

He baited it with his delicious, saggy flesh.