Neighbors balk at bear killing
Police, Fish & Game say Switzer shooting was necessary
Scattered bits of noodles in front of a trailer are all that's left of the cold can of spaghetti enjoyed by a black bear before police shot and killed it Tuesday.
The cinnamon-colored, 150-pound bear was shot by two police officers around 10 a.m. Tuesday in Switzer Village Trailer Park behind the recreation center near Shooting Star Street. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Fish and Game said biologists believe the bear was old and not in good health.
According to police, the bear has frequented the area for several weeks feeding on garbage. Police found it Tuesday morning at a garbage can near the front door of a residence on Fireweed Street.
Some bystanders watching the hour-long standoff between the snacking bear and police were outraged police killed the animal they called a "teddy bear."
"It was unjustifiable," said John Shakespeare, who watched Tuesday's events 20 feet away from the bear. "That bear wasn't doing anything to anyone. He's a teddy bear really. The police even tried ramming at it with their car. The bear didn't even move. ... After they waited around for Fish and Game for about an hour they chased it to just behind the rec center where the public couldn't see it and just started shooting. ... I heard at least eight shots."
Police said the shooting was justified because the bear was being aggressive.
During recent weeks, the bear was reported to have charged an adult and a child and swiped at a dog after entering a trailer, according to a police press release.
When police arrived at the mobile home park around 9 a.m. Tuesday they notified Fish and Game, which said the bear was a threat and should be destroyed.
Fish and Game staff could not respond immediately because they were busy trapping three bears near Thunder Mountain Road. The Thunder Mountain bears, a sow and two cubs, were trapped, tranquilized and relocated, said Pat Bunting of Fish and Game. The agency is more willing to move problem sows and cubs than solitary, older bears with a taste for garbage.
Police said the bear shot Tuesday at Switzer took a swipe at a dog, striking its nose. Police said they followed the bear to the park's recreation center and shot it.
But Shakespeare and BJ Dodson, who watched the events from her kitchen window across the street, said the bear never touched the dogs.
"That just didn't happen," said Dodson. "Those dogs weren't anywhere near that bear. That bear never took a swipe at any dogs. ... That little bear didn't deserve to be shot."
Shakespeare said the dogs were chained to a fence 20 feet away from the bear. He said the only time the bear showed any sign of aggression was when an officer charged it to scare it away. Shakespeare said the bear sat up, looked at the officers, and went back to its spaghetti.
Police said they stand by their decision to shoot the bear.
"That's their (witnesses) opinion or perception of what happened," Capt. Tom Porter said today. "If the officers said the bear swiped at dogs, then it swiped at the dogs. If they say the bear was being aggressive, then the bear was being aggressive."
According to the press release, after shooting the bear officers were approached by several residents who thanked them for destroying the animal.
Police said they are investigating bringing litter charges against the trailer owners who allegedly failed to properly store the garbage the bear was eating.
Melanie Plenda can be reached at mplenda@juneauempire.com.