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A Connecticut homeowner called state authorities after shooting a black bear in his backyard.
Now he is facing a criminal charge.
Michael Gero, 39, told investigators the bear had broken into an enclosure and killed several chickens. He reportedly saw the bear eating one before he fired.
Gero also believes the same bear killed his goats in August, according to WFSB.
He Reported the Shooting
The incident happened Friday at Gero’s property in Granby.
Gero contacted the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection after killing the animal. Environmental Conservation Police investigated and cited him for illegally taking a black bear.
The charge may carry up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine for a first offense under Connecticut law.
Gero is expected to appear in Torrington Superior Court in early October.
This was not his first close encounter with a bear.
WFSB interviewed Gero in 2024 after another bear attacked one of his goats. Gero said he struck that animal with a branch and chased it into the woods.
Connecticut Law Draws a Fine Line
Connecticut law allows someone to kill a bear when that person reasonably believes it threatens serious bodily harm to a human.
Deadly force is also allowed when a bear attacks a legally controlled pet or enters an occupied building.
However, chickens and goats kept as livestock do not necessarily qualify as protected pets under that provision.
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State law instead directs livestock owners toward Connecticut’s agricultural damage permit process. That process requires property owners to try nonlethal measures first.
They must then consult a DEEP wildlife biologist. The agency must approve a permit before the owner can legally kill a damaging bear.
That distinction sits at the center of the controversy.
The bear was reportedly inside Gero’s enclosure and actively feeding on one of his chickens. Yet the law appears to treat that situation differently from an attack on a household pet.
Residents Question the Charge
The case drew thousands of comments after WFSB shared it online. Many commenters argued that Gero should have been allowed to protect his animals on his property.
Granby Town Manager Mike Walsh also expressed sympathy for Gero. He suggested lawmakers should review the statute and that DEEP should provide communities with better guidance.
DEEP said the bear was not tagged and that the agency knew of no other reported attacks connected to it.
The facts will now move into court. The larger question may eventually land with state lawmakers: How long must a property owner wait while a bear kills his livestock?
Self-defense doesn’t end when the threat goes down. That’s when the real battle begins. Lawyers. Prosecutors. Headlines. USCCA Members never fight that battle alone. Find out how.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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He should have told DEEP the bear was eating “Fluffy”
He should have told DEEP the bear was eating “Fluffy.”
Shoot, shovel and shut up.
make a bearskin rug…….and bear chili, and bear stew….
Another black on white hate crime.
Shut up racist
You cannot believe how absolutely stupid gov is. Or I guess you can. I guess he should have waited for the bear to kill all of his livelihood and then turn on him.
Connecticut has some really stupid laws!! Let’s say Mr. Gero found the bear eating his chickens, so to legally run off the bear he hits it with a rake or broom or other long tool. Then the bear attacks him and kills him. So should Mr. Gero have run and applied for a permit to kill it before he was killed? Any adult bear can instantly turn on you and become a lethal threat because they move very quickly. So the archaic law should be changed to allow anyone to defend their animals of ANY kind. I love wildlife of every kind and if I come across one on my property that poses a danger to me or my family, usually they run away, but if they don’t even after trying to shoo them away humanely, I will kill anything if it attacks!
This is why you should never report a damn thing to anyone. Just shoot, and shut up. Especially is it’s a home invasion or burglary. Never call the cops.
Exactly ! The best advice I ever heard and read regarding that sort of things is “Stay away from the legal system as much as you can”. It can mean different things for each one but in this instance, as no human being has been shot, the Sound of Silence would have probably been more appropriate. It is easy to say but not so easy to do, myself I could have naively done the same thing as he did.
Ignorant. If you get caught and self defense argument is dead. Grow up
Sure fudd, sure. How do those boots taste? Grow up
You are a dumbass. If you legally protect yourself and immediately call the police, you have a defense. If you legally protect yourself, but dont call the police your defense disappears. It is common fucking sense. If having common sense is what fudd means, I am perfectly fine with that immature label.
Shoot, shovel, and shut-up…..now the poor guy has to hope for a plea deal or a jury nullification (good luck getting that in a liberal community) 🥺
If I’m on the jury, he walks no matter what the law says.
His mistake was reporting it. He should have dug a deep hole, buried it, and kept his mouth shut.
Never call the police for shooting anyone or anything on your property.
You are ridiculous. That is fast way to get multiple enhancements and no chance for defense
connecticut?? May God forbid ! The poor man may be sentenced to community service as in feeding and counseling surviving black bears plus just a small honorarium for the court. There, all better in liberalland.
Actually the bear was going after my dog, cat, pet gold fish…..
Thoritsu, yea that probably works too, all though I wouldn’t bet too much on that in Commieiticut
Actually the bear was going after my dog, cat, pet gold fish…..
The bear was attacking me. End of story. One story, just like anyone breaking in one’s house.
Yup, lucifer’s accursed dimmercraps, putting varmints and nuisances above humans.
Whenever Man comes into conflict with animals its the animals who always lose. The Far Right believe that they have the right to gun down man or beast if it results in trespassing on their sacred property.
On the other hand the sad reality is that when the game department cuts down on the numbers of animals harvested because they have become just to numerous and they now must rely on feeding out of garbage cans its the wild game that always suffers.
Not always Dacian. Remember the “bear whisperer”? When the bears he thought were his friends got through with him, he was a naked corpse that was only identified by his fingerprints.
How about when the Romans fed Christians to the lions?
What about the Tsavo maneater lions who snatched people from tents. They were thought to have killed, and eaten, over 100 people.
There are thousands of records of the animals coming out on top.
You sound like an animal worshiping apartment dweller in some accursed city who doesn’t have any concerns with damage from varmints and nuisances.
What the hell makes you think this is a “far right “ thing? Narrow minded moron.
Keep that same energy and thought process when it’s your home or family member getting attacked and eaten, or raped and murdered… Retard
Hope you find a dangerous animal or person on your sacred property soon. Good luck . Maybe you can try to reason with said animal or person!! Make a video while you’re doing this. Instructional videos are always good for training what not to do.
If you want to say that chickens were eating beer wouldn’t you say chickens are “drinking” beer instead of saying beer “eating” chickens
black bear lives matter…….
What about chicken lives.
wings and soups…….i hope not!
Weak.
Great one, Paul!