blake
Life Member
NEWS:
No Charges for Florida Farmer in Bear Shooting
5/18/2009
After investigating the killing on a 370-pound black bear, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission determined that the Santa Rosa county man who shot the bear was legally justified for doing so.
Jerry Lee Cash, 60, shot the large bear on Wednesday when he found the bear inside a fenced area on his property killing goats. The bear had killed five goats the week before.
"Mr. Cash contacted the FWC and followed our recommendations to keep the bear away from his goats. He had put up an electric fence and moved his other goats to smaller pens inside his property, but unfortunately the bear was still able to get at them," FWC wildlife biologist Barb Almario said. "Biologists had set two traps on the property, but the bear bypassed them.
FWC Officer Howard Jones stated the Cash acted responsibly and found no reason to press charges against the farmer.
Killing black bears intentionally in Florida is a felony, but FWC officers evaluate each case to determine if the killing was justified or intentional.
"The best way to avoid conflicts with bears is to remove or secure anything that attracts them," Dave Telesco, the FWC's Black Bear Management Program coordinator, said. "When bears lose their natural fear of people and associate homes with food, there aren't many good options."
No Charges for Florida Farmer in Bear Shooting
5/18/2009
After investigating the killing on a 370-pound black bear, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission determined that the Santa Rosa county man who shot the bear was legally justified for doing so.
Jerry Lee Cash, 60, shot the large bear on Wednesday when he found the bear inside a fenced area on his property killing goats. The bear had killed five goats the week before.
"Mr. Cash contacted the FWC and followed our recommendations to keep the bear away from his goats. He had put up an electric fence and moved his other goats to smaller pens inside his property, but unfortunately the bear was still able to get at them," FWC wildlife biologist Barb Almario said. "Biologists had set two traps on the property, but the bear bypassed them.
FWC Officer Howard Jones stated the Cash acted responsibly and found no reason to press charges against the farmer.
Killing black bears intentionally in Florida is a felony, but FWC officers evaluate each case to determine if the killing was justified or intentional.
"The best way to avoid conflicts with bears is to remove or secure anything that attracts them," Dave Telesco, the FWC's Black Bear Management Program coordinator, said. "When bears lose their natural fear of people and associate homes with food, there aren't many good options."