Snoqualmie man under investigation for killing black bear
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SNOQUALMIE, Wash. -- A Snoqualmie man is under investigation for shooting and killing a 400-pound black bear in a busy residential neighborhood.
Nestled against the forest fringe, Snoqualmie residents say wildlife and everyday life are one in the same.
"My son's seen bears out of his window at night, so bears are just, we just expect to see them," said Chelsea Carbonell.
It's not surprising for neighbors to see bears roaming backyards, but what happened Sunday night did surprise the community.
"My wife woke up and heard four gunshots. She heard bang, bang, bang, bang," said Matt Scontrino.
Police responded to a house on Strouf Street and, in the woods out back, Fish and Wildlife officer Chris Moszeter found a dead black bear. The male bear had been shot several times.
"A large bear, probably around 400 - 450 pounds," Moszeter said. "Good, healthy specimen."
Moszeter said his office hadn't seen the bear before, but police were familiar with the man who pulled the trigger. Police say he shot at a bear last November, but he missed.
It's illegal to fire a gun in city limits unless it's in self defense. That's the ruling police came to back in November, but now they -- along with the Department of Fish and Wildlife -- are reviewing both incidents to see if the man, who's in his 20s, actually fired to protect himself.
Neighbors in the area say living in Snoqualmie means having to share their space.
"They've kind of just become a part of our living environment and we just learn to be more careful," Carbonell said.
Police are now investigating the incident and will release their findings in the next several day.
Nestled against the forest fringe, Snoqualmie residents say wildlife and everyday life are one in the same.
"My son's seen bears out of his window at night, so bears are just, we just expect to see them," said Chelsea Carbonell.
It's not surprising for neighbors to see bears roaming backyards, but what happened Sunday night did surprise the community.
"My wife woke up and heard four gunshots. She heard bang, bang, bang, bang," said Matt Scontrino.
Police responded to a house on Strouf Street and, in the woods out back, Fish and Wildlife officer Chris Moszeter found a dead black bear. The male bear had been shot several times.
"A large bear, probably around 400 - 450 pounds," Moszeter said. "Good, healthy specimen."
Moszeter said his office hadn't seen the bear before, but police were familiar with the man who pulled the trigger. Police say he shot at a bear last November, but he missed.
It's illegal to fire a gun in city limits unless it's in self defense. That's the ruling police came to back in November, but now they -- along with the Department of Fish and Wildlife -- are reviewing both incidents to see if the man, who's in his 20s, actually fired to protect himself.
Neighbors in the area say living in Snoqualmie means having to share their space.
"They've kind of just become a part of our living environment and we just learn to be more careful," Carbonell said.
Police are now investigating the incident and will release their findings in the next several day.
. . .and the car at the beginning of the video is running a stop sign.
...this is just like the Zimmerman case...both were legally carrying a gun...both stalked their victim...even worse the bear killer baited his like a child molester with candy...both killed their victim claiming self defense...initially Zimmerman was let go...but after public out cry he was sent to prison awaiting trial...that is where this bear killer needs to be...he is obviously a danger to society...WTF is it the wild west up there in Snoqualmie Ridge? Who is this guy...there has to be at least one animal lover up there who knows his name...
...big tough bear killer...I'd like to see you in a cage against another human...no weapons...
...In Jail!...
...if the criminal justice system doesn't do anything about this...then we should post everything we can find out about him and shame him on the internet...make a FB page about the big bad bear killer...shooting his gun in a residential area...for the second time...what if there's a third time and a stray bullet kills someone...a child...your child....
This guy is a moron.....he tried not only to kill a bear before but also deer and birds within city limits.
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Lock him up.
Bears are really getting to be a problem since the dept of wildlife banned putting out food for bear hunting. They come out at night and you're not allowed to hunt at night. Change the law back to where it was so that people will knock the bear population back done. Its only a matter of time before some horrific bear attack happens and then people will start whining.
If the bear was in any way aggressive towards this individual then he was well within his rights to shoot it. Its another reason why you NEVER talk to police. Just tell them it was self defense and walk away.
We live in the woods...wildlife was not unexpected. Â Adjustments had to be made. Â We cannot have cats unless we want to keep them inside the house. Â I am very careful and take my dog when walking in the early morning or dusk. Â I doubt the bear charged him...it was fortuitous him having the gun at the ready and all..<sarcsam> Â Â My husband used to hunt, his family business was taxidermy and my family hunted, so I am not anti-hunting. Â But there are rules about discharging weapons inside city limits for a reason. Â I don't want to rely on this guy's aim and good judgement inside city limits. Â Too many unintended targets.... : )
Good. It is about time people stopped paying attention to the kind of morons who want to force everyone to "live with the wildlife". Let them go up to Alaska and have their own Timothy Treadwell experience.Â
 @LockesChild I don't want to live on your scorched and depleted planet. Shoot what is charging you, but leave it alone if it is just strolling through the woods. I do not know what happened in this case, and nor do you.
 @two loons Just what was reported. And, if true, this guy had every justification to shoot.
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And ensuring you and your home is safe is a far cry from a "scorched and depleted planet".
 @kooper123 You know you just shouldn't confront wildlife animals right? if there's a strong wildlife presence in that place and the person in question feels threatened for his life and it's family then he should move to the city... It's quiet obvious that the bear lunged at the dog because I bet the dog wasn't exactly quiet and the bear just naturally respond... act reasonably because these kind of events can be avoid, I'm sure it's not due to lack of info about preventive measures about wildlife but it's sure for lack of human judgement, that's still what differentiates humans as racional animals...
 @jaspr This wasn't a wilderness. And a "strong wildlife presence" just means one should travel with protection, which this man did. Good for him
 @LockesChild He could've just shoot into the air and that would've scared the bear...
 @FormerMarineSgt "Did he create the situation where he had to shoot these two bears?  "
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Short of intentionally provoking the bear, it is hard to imagine any way he could have provoked the encounter in way that could be regarded as illegal. And going out with your dogs off a leash doesn't qualify as intentionally provoking in my mind.
 @jaspr rubber bullets?Â
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Good job caricaturing a PETA nutjob. Keep it up!
@jaspr @LockesChild - why did he have to shoot the bear?Â
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To me having the same guy doing this twice in two years (And being the only person who has done it in that area) makes me suspicious of what really happened. Was he really threatened? Did he create the situation where he had to shoot these two bears?  I don't know for sure, but it sure smells like there's more to it than just a random aggressive bear. and based on comments on here from someone who says they witnessed this event (or others with this guy), I'm even more concerned that this isn't what the shooter is representing it to be.
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I live only a couple of miles from where this happened - I run into the local bears once in a while and I have not yet seen any aggressive behavior from them - nor have I heard any reports from ANYONE in the area regarding aggressive bears.  If there were aggressive bears in the ridge area where he lives, I think us locals would know more about it than just this guy's supposed encounters.
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 @LockesChild lol, ok, stick to that idea. Why didn't he used rubber bullets? it would hurt and scare but it would not kill...or, then again, in this range of ideas, let's just kill, it's easier, isn't that the animal way? or is it the human way? I'm confused...
 @jaspr Bad idea. First of all, a wild animal can react in different ways to a loud sound. If the bear is already threatening you then giving up the extra second or two could mean you or your dog's life. Second, think about where that bullet might travel. Someone might get hurt from the stray bullet fired into the air--which is highly unlikely when firing in the woods downwards towards an animal.
If this bear was truly agressive it would be known to others in the area as these animals have patterns.  When you live with bears you take precautions like - no trash outside, no bird seed etc so they are not attracted to your yard. If this Bear is a regular then there is a food source for him, especially this time of year when they are trying to fatten up for winter. http://www.bearsmart.com/ has good info for anyone who is living with Bears.
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I too am rural and back on the greenbelt, but have lived with bears on "my" property and when hiking with no issues.  Example: I know that there is a good chance a bear will be around trash night as many folks put out at night rather than waiting until the am. When I take my dog out late at night (or after dark), I start with turning on the light, making a bunch of noise, checking to see if he is around (my dog can smell him before I see him) and then and only then  go out with my dog on a leash. Basically do not surprise the bear and 99.9% of the time there are no issues as they really do not want to interact with us.
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If this person feels so threatened he should move someplace where he feels safe.
 @skijour Yep, bears and humans can live fine together provided you use some good judgement and avoid feeding them in anyway.   Curious, do you put bells on your dogs to help pre-warn the wildlife?
 @skijour No, let the bear move. Which this man facilitated. You want to life in wilderness to to Alaska for your own Timothy Treadwell experience.
 @LockesChild  @skijour That's the second time you've suggested this. Treadwell did something most people will never do, and he lost his life doing it. It may not be what most would choose, but hell, he didn't spend his life sitting behind a computer.
It wasn't always risk free, but he had an adventure along the way. To paint anyone who disagrees with you a raving idiot/ tree hugger stereotype, and reduce Treadwell to the one moment that ended his life is convenient for you, but doesn't really end the debate as neatly as you'd like.
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 @two loons  @skijour and anyone who thinks Treadwell was anything other than a raving idiot is a lunatic. Which makes your handle rather appropriate.
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Regardless, if this bear was threatening him the police will leave him alone. Which I know will drive the loons mad--how sweet it is.
 @LockesChild You seem really hung up on the whole "Timothy Treadwell experience."
Seems like just a matter of bad timing--AGAIN. Seems like you could just avoid going out when the bears are VERY LIKELY TO BE PRESENT. I'm sure he does feel horrible to have killed the bear.
And I'd also like to point out that this fails to mention one important fact.... that if he did this for fun or just because he hates nature...why would he call the cops ON HIMSELF? He is the one who called the cops when he shot. Both times he did the right thing and called the cops after he shot. If you do something to be a punk or whatever you normally dont call the cops on yourself.
 @kooper123 Read his friends' explanation below. He wants to have all bears removed so he's called the police and home owners association before. This loser shouldn't have bought a house where he did.
Just watched the video- why is his mail box in the woods behind his house?
 @Peace4all the video doesnt show his house at all
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so he is on crack or something or just so scared of the woods he checks his mail out in his back yard
So I personally know the person who shot the bear. He feels horrible for shooting it. He didnt want to. He was scared for his life. He has a permit to carry and he always carries a gun outside because of past run ins with bears. One lunged at his dogs, thats why he fired last year. One lunged at his pregnant wife on their porch last December. They contacted the police, and the home owners assoc in an attempt to get the bears removed so something like this wouldnt happened. He was outside getting the mail. He was outside at night because he works nights. People need to think before they comment. Hes not a punk, or an animal hater. Have a bear come at you and then you can talk. He wishes this never would have happened. So maybe the people who are on here calling names should take a hard look at themselves. You dont see him on here degrading other people.Â
 @kooper123 Having a friend with property that bears frequent who's often outside at night who's had no problems with them and having been within 200' of the bears there on numerous occasions with no problems I find it unlikely that the gentleman isn't behaving in manners that are causing his problems with the bears.Â
 @kooper123 Ever heard of maze?Â
 @bxgirlinseattle you mean corn?
 @kooper123 Do introduce your friend to bear spray.  It's cheap, effective and helps develop a pattern of fear in the bears if sprayed on them anytime they near humans.   Oh, and you stay out the news and avoid becoming a 'customer' of the County LE.
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Thanks for giving some well needed context!Â
 @kooper123 I'm sorry but what are the chances that this happens twice to this guy and not a single other time to any of his neighbors? It just doesn't add up.
 @ValleyBronco because no one else in our immediate area takes their dogs out at night. and the house in question is the house that backs up against the green belt where the bears enter the neighborhood. its the first house the bears arrive at.Â
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 @FormerMarineSgt  @kooper123  @ValleyBronconot to mention our bear are more scared of us and our dogs then we are of them. My 90 lbs. rottweiler/husky used to chase the bears! I've lived in the valley(hence my user name) all my 30 years and never come across a bear who would rather lunge then run.
@kooper123 @ValleyBronco - I live around the other side of Snoqualmie. These bears don't generally go 'lunging' after people or dogs - unless the people and dogs are harassing these bears.
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btw - define how these bears 'lunge' at this guy,, his wife or his dogs. How far away were these 'lunging' bears' if it was across the otherside of the yard -or a good 20 - 30 yards away when it 'lunged' , I call BS on it being dangerous.
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Yeah, i've seen bears around my house and yes, they are 'scarey' and intimidating - however, I've not seen ANY that did what kooper is claiming happened to this guy.
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And the problem I have is that this supposedly happened only to THIS GUY and it happened TWICE over 2 years with two different bears.  From the outside looking in, it smacks more of a scaredy cat with a gun than it does 'bears on the attack'.
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NO ONE ELSE is reporting this kind of aggressive bear activity in the area. And I don't care what part of the ridge he lives on, other people WOULD be encountering these so-called aggressive bears and they would be reporting it.Â
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this whole thing just doesn't smell right.Â
If he works nights then why was he home at night getting the mail and why would not his wife get the mail in the daytime
 @Peace4all it was his day off. people who work night often keep their schedule on their days off. his wife doesnt have a copy of the mail key.Â
So he is a control freak?
 @kooper123  @Peace4all rednecks... Guess, what, this could have all been avoided if you and him and been.. NORMAL.
then he should give his key to his wife so she can get the mail in the day and not go out back in the woods looking for the mail box
 @Peace4all yeah no key, i have no mail key. wanna come check my key ring?
So So funny no key Bull -so on your night off you check your mail in the dark
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 @kooper123 What was his excuse for the last time he was out shooting bears in the neighborhood in November? It;s early morning, he's out shooting bears. Tell the dead beat to get a fence.
 @super did you not read? a bear came after his dog. he cant build a fence because he lives in what is technically a condo.
@kooper123 He had choices! I grew up in bear country and don't buy what you are saying or what the punk is claiming.
 @raven  @kooper123 what choices?Â
 @kooper123 stop being a pussy or move.
@kooper123 I doubt it. Remember - he tried to kill one last year. I am so sick of hearing how humans encroach on wildlife's habitat and then expect the wildlife to "disappear"! If he can't handle living there then move to the city where he can hunt others.
 @kooper123 Thank you
 ummm what do you "doubt"? he didnt try to kill it, he shot at it because it lunged at his dogs. I know because I was there.
 @kooper123 lives in bear country and lets dogs run loose... okey dokey. I live in bear country. they don't bother me, I don't bother them. I keep my trash secured and no loose animals. Does the term "common sense" mean anything to you? Bear lunged at dogs... What. Ever. that's the exact reaction a bear will have to ANY dog.