Black Bear Mother Shot to Death Deserves Justice

Target: Katie Scharf Dykes, Commissioner of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Goal: Investigate circumstances and weigh potential charges in mother black bear’s shooting and death.

A beloved black bear who called Connecticut home was shot dead, leaving two orphan cubs behind. The bear, named Bobbi by locals, was so well-known in the Newtown region that a social media page dedicated to sightings of her had amassed over a thousand followers. Bobbi’s cubs have been taken to a rehabilitation facility, where they will be nurtured before being reintroduced to the wild in a few months. The circumstances around this mother bear’s shooting, however, remain less clear.

Authorities will only confirm that an off-duty and still-unnamed police officer was potentially involved with the shooting and that the incident took place on private property. Connecticut has strict laws against the killing of black bears, as shootings are typically only permitted in cases of self-defense. Black bear attacks, and especially attacks in this bear-heavy region, appear to be extremely rare.

Since the cubs’ fate is settled, attention should now focus on determining whether or not a crime was committed in this tragedy. Sign the petition below to urge a full and unyielding investigation.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Commissioner Dykes,

“The tragic and brutal killing of this mother black bear, leaving her orphaned cubs stranded, was preventable and unnecessary.” The director of Connecticut’s Humane Society offered these thoughts in regard to the shooting death of local bear Bobbi. Much of the recent attention regarding this case has centered around the health and care of the cubs left behind. These young animals are now safe, but the trauma of their mother’s passing will likely long remain.

They, and the fallen animal herself, deserve justice. Please stay vigilant in the investigation concerning this tragic incident. If the killing violated any Connecticut statute, recommend full charges that will affirm the importance of wildlife protection within this state.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Save Bobbi’s Cubs