Aggressive Bear Killed

Man shoots, kills aggressive bear on his property west of Klamath Falls Oregon

Photo: Oregon State Police

(KLAMATH FALLS OR) - A Klamath County resident killed a bear Tuesday morning on his property after the bear tried to attack his family's dogs and then turned toward the man's home before being shot.

Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division investigated and concluded no crime was committed.

According to Sergeant Randy Hand, on May 28, 2013 at approximately 4:45 a.m., OSP was contacted by the adult male resident reporting he shot and killed a large bear near his house after it allegedly chased his dogs, then aggressively turned toward him after he opened his back door to check on the commotion.

The investigation indicated during the early morning hours, the man let his dogs out of the house on his Round Lake area property west of Klamath Falls. Moments later, the man said he heard his dogs barking and a roaring sound so he looked outside and saw a large bear chasing his dogs.

The man retrieved a rifle and opened the back door where he saw the bear about 25 feet away immediately turn toward him in an aggressive manner.

Fearing for the safety of his family and dogs, he shot at the bear twice. The bear ran off and was found dead about a hundred yards from his home.

According to Hand, the man was quite shaken by the encounter but neither he nor his dogs were hurt.

The investigation found evidence matching the man's description of the encounter and killing.

The bear was first taken to Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) biologists who took biological samples from the 350 pound bear.

It was then taken to the Klamath Tribes for dispersal to tribal members.

Oregon law (ORS 498.012) allows a landowner or landowner agent to use lethal means to address damage, public nuisance, or public health risk on land that a person owns or lawfully occupies involving bears without obtaining an ODFW permit. The man requested that police not release his name.

Source: Oregon State Police