Jun 28, 2009 4:18 pm US/Central
Officers Shoot, Kill Bear In La Crosse Park
LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) ―
-
-
The La Crosse Police say they decided along with the state Department of Natural Resources to shoot the bear Saturday morning because officials were concerned about public safety. (File)
AP
A 300-pound black bear made its way into a park picnic area in La Crosse over the weekend before being shot and killed by authorities.
The La Crosse Police say they decided along with the state Department of Natural Resources to shoot the bear Saturday morning because officials were concerned about public safety.
The bear was first chased through Myrick Park along a fence. Then it climbed a tree above the old zoo.
Steve Lambert says he and other people who were in the park at the time criticized the decision to shoot the bear rather than use a tranquilizer and remove it.
Police Sgt. Gary Hauser says the officers didn't want to shoot the bear, but the DNR warden wasn't carrying a tranquilizer gun. He says there was an immediate public safety threat.
-------
La Crosse police squad cars chased the animal through the park and along a fence in the northwest section of the park away from the shelters and playground, according to a witness.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
