From the Seattle Times of January 1, 2008
Grizzly, 3 cubs killed on Kodiak Island
A rabbit hunter fired his pistol at a charging grizzly bear on Kodiak Island, badly wounding the old sow, which was later killed, as were her three cubs.
The hunter, whose name is not being released, was hunting rabbits near the American River on Friday about 15 miles outside Kodiak when the sow charged him, said John Crye, a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, on Monday.
The hunter, who was carrying two weapons, shot the bear when it was about 10 yards away. It was the second time in a week that hunters had encountered the family of bears. The last time it was one of the cubs that charged a father and son out duck hunting as the mother and the other cubs slept nearby.
This time, the rabbit hunter was charged after he rounded a corner and surprised the sow, who was at least 25 years old.
"A rabbit hunter was in the brush and kind of woke them up out of their beds," Crye said. "He felt threatened by the sow, so he shot the sow."
The hunter immediately notified Alaska State Troopers and the Department of Fish and Game. Crye went with troopers to the site where the 8-foot, 400-pound sow lay barely alive.
It was determined that she was too badly injured and would have to be killed, so she was shot again.
...
Crye said the shooting was justifiable because the hunter felt threatened.
(More)
Further links:
Rabbit hunter shoots charging bear
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