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A quiet mountain community in Arrowbear Lake, California, is at odds after a homeowner shot and killed a bear that was raiding his outdoor chicken coop.
While state wildlife officials have ruled the shooting justified, neighbors are torn about whether the homeowner went too far.
What Happened?
According to KTLA5, the incident occurred on Fox Lane last Wednesday night. Residents reported hearing multiple gunshots.
The bear, estimated to be 3–4 years old, had reportedly been skittish around humans in the past.
However, the homeowner, identified only as Chris, told KTLA5 reporters he had tried every legal deterrent to keep the bear away, including installing an electric fence and using bear spray.
Chris explained, “I did everything I can legally to prevent [the bear]… He still kept coming.”
California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) confirmed that the homeowner had acted within the law.
Under California Fish and Game Code 4181.1, property owners are allowed to kill a bear if it is actively injuring or threatening livestock.
Community Reactions
While the shooting was legally justified, it sparked strong opinions within the community and online.
Some residents criticized the outcome, expressing sadness over the bear’s death. Others took a more balanced view, acknowledging both the need for livestock protection and the regret of losing wildlife.
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“I think if Fish and Game says that it’s justified, it’s justified,” one resident said to KTLA5. “But I do love animals, so it does hurt to see it end this way.”
What’s Next?
The incident has prompted neighbors to rally around Chris, offering to help reinforce his chicken coop to prevent future conflicts.
Meanwhile, the CDFW continues to remind residents of California’s regulations for handling wildlife threats.
This situation serves as a reminder for all communities in bear country: preventative measures like secure enclosures, electric fencing, and proper waste management are crucial to avoiding outcomes like this.
Bottom Line
The Arrowbear Lake incident highlights the line between wildlife conservation and property protection.
While laws like California’s Fish and Game Code provide clear guidelines, they don’t erase the emotional impact these situations can have on certain folks…
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At our mountain home I kept my Mossberg 12 gauge loaded for bear, the first round was light bird shot, the next rubber buck, then rifled slugs, the rest magnum buck shot. On the one occasion I used the shotgun, I saw the bear near my front porch, I stuck the barrel out of the front door and fired the light bird shot near the bear, as he turned to run at about 50 feet I hit him with the rubber buck, he stumbled and took off at high speed. I never saw the bear again. You cannot have a bear coming around your property, if you come around a corner and startle the bear you could be in serious peril. My plan was to kill the bear if I saw it again. About two months after this I heard that a neighbor about 2 miles away had killed a bear and from the description was the same one.
“Some residents criticized the outcome, expressing sadness over the bear’s death.”
Whaddabout the murder of “Peanut.”? Criket sounds in cali.
Chickens have rights too. They have families also. Um..until breakfast anyway.
As much as I love animals it’s hard to criticize someone who kills an animal that’s doing that much damage and causing that many problems. I shot a freaking squirrel that was living on top of my cars engine. The SOB ended up chewing up all the wires costing me $640 to replace. Next time I saw it come out from under my car it was curtains.
shot yogi but it was a boo-boo……….
i suspect this was more about the gun and an excuse to get rid of it.
I have lived with chickens, bears, and goats on my property for over 20 years and never found a need to kill a bear. This guy must be a lousy builder and I doubt whether he needed to raise chickens to feed his family given the location.
I have lived with chickens, bears, and goats on my property for over 20 years and never found a need to kill a bear. This guy must be a lousy builder and I doubt whether he needed to raise chickens to feed his family.
The Kalifornistan ‘snowflakes’ are already going crazy over this. I love animals, but a human life is worth more than a bear. A bear hanging around humans foraging for food, especially killing livestock, even chickens, is an accident waiting to happen. How would you feel if it mauled to death a kid? Get over it Steve!
And those people criticising Chris would be demanding G&F “do something” about the bear that killed Little Fluffy and wouldn’t think anything if G&F decided to “euthanize” the bear, but when a “citizen” (have to use that term lightly in the Peoples Republik of Kalifornicate) exercises his legal right to defend his livestock, he gets crucified.
No reason to shoot a bear over some damn chickens. Did he get the state wildlife officers involved? If they didn’t help they are part if the problem.
Wow! U win the troll award! Only in California would this make the news. Bears are aggressive animals and given the neighbors description of the bear frequently hanging out in the area. It’s surprising this didn’t happen sooner. Kudos to the homeowner for trying other deterrents first. I bet you’re one of those people who believes you go to the grocery store and get chicken “where they make it!” This man’s in the mountains and needs to take care of his family not feed the bears. That’s why the law exists that protected him and his family food supply.
Man-bun gets his information from Disney, where “oh, the animals” talk, and Animal Planet, run by fellow emasculistas.
Few years ago here in Colorado Springs, a pregnant woman was out walking in a suburban neighborhood. Bear started stalking her…slowly, then faster as she started to run…she barely made it to a nearby home that took her in. Cops later shot the bear. You should have heard the usual suspects like Stevie-Kins literally telling her she should have been killed by the bear and that her and her child’s like was not worth the life of a dangerous animal.
Graduates of public school and popular culture, speaking of masses of people who serve no purpose….
Wait, I know you. You’re the same guy who feeds and tries to pet the animals when the Ranger says not to.
Obviously you didn’t read the whole article… The “State Wildlife Officers” were involved and said the man was justified in shooting the bear… And the man made it clear he tried every legal method to deter the bear. You sound like the neighbor that called the media, and the “State Wildlife Officers”. By the way, there isn’t such a title in California, they are referred to as, California Game and Fish officers last I checked. Let me assure you, there are county level “Wildlife Officers” that were involved previously. And 90% of the time, they are busy dealing with other Bear huggers and Coyote cuddlers complaining about their neighbors protecting their livestock and families by dispatching the offenders.