Battle Creek police shoot black bear on B.C.'s North Side

[Jamie B]

Sounds like they knew where he was, why not follow him, tranqualize him, and set him free up north? It sounds like a urban safari to me, It was night time most people are off the streets. Lucky for the bear in Fruitport these police were not there!

[maureenlee]

Why would you kill such a beautiful animal? It hurt no one. Poor thing kept trying to get away from harm from a HUMAN. Poor soul

[Saif]

GD redneck Barney Fife MFers!

The bear was where it was because there was food available. Had it attacked anyone? No. Had it killed any pets? No, why would it kill a pet with all the free food around?

It was a bear cub, by the way. It wasn't even grown yet. Tranquilize it and move it out of the area it was spotted.

I'm no bleeding heart, but this is utter crap.

[Rick]

It sounds like they had nothing better to do but to track down this animal and kill it. They had injured it by shooting at it and hitting it with their car...sounds like animial abuse to me! Will there be charges filled (doubtful) But the BCPD is more than happy to charge every day citizens with animal abuse. Gotta love the double standard!
By the way, how did the domestic violence investigation turn out? Sounds to me like BCPD blew that investigation off. I'm so glad I'm not protected by the "wonderful" BCPD!!

[Animal Lover]

Did they have to kill the bear? Couldn't something have been done to relocate it without taking its life?

[Bobbiez]

This is just plain wrong. Isn't this why we have a taxpayer funded DNR? Shouldn't they have come, tranquilized the bear, and removed it to another area? No, I'm not a tree-hugger, but people need to realize that we SHARE THE EARTH with all of the animals out there. We go into their "neighborhoods" all the time. Why is it when they come into ours some people feel the need to shoot it. Oh yeah, and Tiffany I 100% agree with you. Of course, maybe they think it was the bear that broke into your house.

[SLEEPIN BEAR]

Lucy in Rockford wrote:

That poor thing!

I agree, POOR THING. Bears deserve to be treated better. We have rights!! Our forefathers were here before the Injuns. Better garbarge, more bird feed, warm winter garages in the winter, loving children to play with near schools, yea.

Who are these muncho gun slingers to be hunting bears out of season. AND WHERE DID ALL THE BULLETS GO IN THE NIGHT.??

[Brower]

I understand significant concern with having a black bear roam through your neighborhood and the safety risks it presents. However, I am disappointed in how the bear was captured. There is no reason that animal control or DNR couldn't have utilized tranquilizers to safely remove the bear and relocate it to its proper habitat. In addition, I can't believe someone hit the bear with a patrol car. It wasn't as though the bear was actively attacking someone and that was the only means of handling the situation. I feel as though the bear should have been saved and transported out of the city environment.

[Jim]

Gilleylen was on Orchard Place on Battle Creek's north side about 1:50 a.m. looking for the victim of a domestic assault when he shined his car spotlight down Calhoun Street.

“It was right in the middle of the road,” he said, first on all four feet and then standing on its back feet.“When I backed up to get another look it took off running.”

So let me get this straight... a BCPD officer is looking for a victim of an assault and comes accross this bear standing in the middle of the road, minding his own business. The bear, startled by the approacing car, stands up and runs away. The officer calls his buddy, who has an upcoming bear hunt, and starts shooting at it!!!

Well isn't that going above and beyond to protect the citizens of the community you serve!

Sounds strangly like poaching to me.

Well maybe the bear was resisting arrest... I never really thought about that possibility.

[get over it]

funny how people come out of the woodwork to slam cops all the time, if this bear was in their garages or near their home, they would be complaining that the cops didn't respond fast enough and didn't kill it before it hurt someone......blah blah blah....remember this bear was in Battle Creek, not BFE, and it's a WILD animal........

[ride2tires]

Good Lord..... please tell me this is a joke or something!!!
Glad these jack-monkeys do not live in the Upper Penninsula were bear sightings are common.
If the cop has a bear hunt scheduled, I wonder if it will take him numerous shots, 20 friends, and a cop car to run down a bear on his hunt????

[Jim]

get over it wrote:

funny how people come out of the woodwork to slam cops all the time, if this bear was in their garages or near their home, they would be complaining that the cops didn't respond fast enough and didn't kill it before it hurt someone......blah blah blah....remember this bear was in Battle Creek, not BFE, and it's a WILD animal........

Well when the they do something this ignorant, it just can't be ignored. It could have been a bear in downtown Grand Rapids, who cares, if it wasn't hurting anybody, then let it go on about it's business.

[Stephen]

bears are godless killing machines

[MIbowhunter]

There is so much wrong with this story I don't know where to start. Yet another black eye for law enforcement. I really enjoyed the part where they said that a citizen reported seeing a bear, but they weren't ready to believe the report until a cop saw it. I also take great exception tho the estimated weight of 200-250 pounds, that bear was closer to 125 pounds. This animal was no threat to anyone. if they can kill a small, young bear, why not shoot all the aggressive stray dogs out there and do a real public service. Another fine example of our tax dollars at work, look at all the cops that responded to this. I would also like to know how they justified shooting it out of a tree (real safe), they had plenty of time to let a real professional show up and capture it. This whole episode makes me sick.

[Karen]

Hey, "Get over it" yes we are slamming the BCPD and we would anyone who has made a very poor decision. We expect the police to have much better judgement. The police are very quick at slamming every day citizens for their actions, like animal abuse, so if they can dish it out, they should be able to take it as well!!

[Ms Angie]

get over it wrote:

funny how people come out of the woodwork to slam cops all the time, if this bear was in their garages or near their home, they would be complaining that the cops didn't respond fast enough and didn't kill it before it hurt someone......blah blah blah....remember this bear was in Battle Creek, not BFE, and it's a WILD animal........

So are rabbits, skunks, possums...ummm squirrels, I could go on all day. All wild and vegetarian animals living in city limits, let's go crazy!

[Michelle]

This is sick. They should not have killed the bear. What did the bear do??? Way to go BCPD. Nice one. Do you feel like big men now.

[RepoRepo]

This animal was not being threatening at all, what was the reason for shooting it??! Instead of shooting it, hitting it with a car, etc. the animal should have just been caught and relocated.

[Emily]

What was the officer thinking? I mean if he saw a deer running around, would he shoot it too. Yeah right!!! According to the article, the bear was not harming anything or anyone for that matter. They could have called Animal Control and cornered the bear. There was absolutely NO REASON TO SHOOT.

[Whuteva]

Ms Angie wrote:

<quoted text>
So are rabbits, skunks, possums...ummm squirrels, I could go on all day. All wild and vegetarian animals living in city limits, let's go crazy!

Exactly. Bee stings kill more people every year than bears do. Where are the cops when I have a bees nest on the side of my garage?

Just a case of a hillbilly, a gun and a reason to shoot something.

Time for the State Police to get involved.