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Bear In Battle Creek Shot & Killed

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Posted: 1:06 PM May 16, 2008
Last Updated: 1:06 PM May 16, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press

19 comments

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Battle Creek police have killed a black bear that state officials believe wandered out of the wilds and well beyond its usual comfort zone.
The Battle Creek Enquirer reports Officer Troy Gilleylen was looking for the victim of a domestic assault early Friday when he shined his patrol car spotlight down a street and saw the bear. He tried to get a closer look, but the bear ran away.
Police say they shot the animal four times but it kept disappearing. They followed drops of blood on the pavement to the wounded bear and killed it.
State Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Jeff Goss says the roughly 250-pound bear will be taken to Lansing for tests. Goss says bears migrate to the southern part of the state, but he believes this is the first to get this far south.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Barb Location: Lansing, MI on Jun 18, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Better Safe than Sorry watches too much TV. How do you know the bear was hungry and lurking around playing children. What were the playing children doing out at that time of night. The bear wasn't lurking anywhere, he was trying to get away. The ignorance of people about wild animals never ceases to amaze me.

Posted by: Ron Location: Lansing on Jun 17, 2008 at 02:10 PM
The officer shot the bear at night, while it was trying to get out of the area, and with a side arm, and we have people saying that there is nothing wrong with that? And for those of you that think it was ok because it may have wanted to eat your children, well first of all why are your children out playing at night, and second quit watching so much TV, the bear was running away posing no threat to anyone.

Posted by: amber Location: battle creek on Jun 8, 2008 at 09:23 PM
It was a BEAR... In a large populated area with children. Police have a reason for doing what they do...That office did nothing wrong. His job and duty as a police officer is to protect...HOW can an officer PROTECT citizens from a large bear? How is an officer supposed to get the bear back to its home..oh wait they didn't know where it came from. People are so crazy...Maybe at that second before the officer shot the bear it had no threat...But it was a BEAR... at any second it could become very dangerous. The person who said "come into my comfort zone" you're dumb. what you're going to shoot an officer who has a family and is just trying to do his job Right! Dyan from Lansing..another sensless shooting. Please become an officer and get into a shooting...shootings that police officers are involved in get investigated. If it wasn't justified then the officer is looking at some trouble. Great Job Battle Creek Police !!!

Posted by: Rhett Location: Battle Creek Mi. on Jun 2, 2008 at 10:24 AM
What will the bear be tested for?

Posted by: Ralph Location: western MI on May 17, 2008 at 09:24 PM
It seems the cops would know the definition of poaching! the bear showwed fear of humans and fled yet the cop in clear violation of state law decided to shoot it, likely with his sidearm which is not considered a bear weapon and cruel. I am a hunter myself and i am outraged that a cop can behave in such a sick shamefull and downright criminal manner and not be charged. He is no better than any other creep on the streets. He was not in fear of his life and his claim of "others safety" is also downright moronic! He shot it either out of pure ignorance or to feed his ego. either way, this lowlife badge toter belongs in jail he is a discrace to his uniform. Hopefully his commanding officers will stand up, show some respect for the law and punish this criminal act.If he is such a coward that he needs to kill a bear out of fear while in his car he needs to start selling shoes and leave police work to real adults. Sounds to me like the cop is more of a threat than a bear!

Posted by: Realist Location: Better Safe Than Sorry on May 17, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Must be none of you self-proclaimed do-gooders have children. Put a 250lb wild & hungry bear in a heavily populated area with no food, now imagine your children outside playing. I'm outraged that none of you people are able or willing to recognise the very real threat that did exist. Kind of makes one consider that just maybe you people actually are trying to further a hidden agenda. And THAT would be just sad. Oh and Kristy, there's nothing "special" about a wild hungry bear lurking around playing children.

Posted by: phil Location: branch co. on May 17, 2008 at 10:10 AM
one was seen in hillsdale county,near camden mich.but never was found.only some tracks.sure they will stray as man takes more of wildlifes lands away.this could of been handeled in a much better way,so the bear could of been turned back into the wilderness.someone jumped the gun.some have these animals for pets,believe it or not.how did the bear get that far?who knows.southern counties see deer right in towns.lack of food,or just looseing their way.camden also has coyotes too.seen them when visting a friend.late at night.even reports of cougars have been made in hillsdale co.nothing found,or never made the news?and there is government owned land around the lower mich counties.as mans takes their land,they come onto ours.only fair.animals try to get along with us,we don't them.humans can be more stupid and dangerous than animals.this proves it.no they have went futher south I'm sure.just no one said much so this wouldn't happen to the animal.another unnessary kill.

Posted by: diamond Location: dewitt on May 17, 2008 at 07:02 AM
my question to the cop???? what did this bear do to deserve to get shot???? maybe the next time a cop gets inside my comfert zone i will be justified to put four in him.. that's only fair.....

Posted by: Bryan Location: Lansing on May 17, 2008 at 12:43 AM
So....why did they shoot the bear? Was it threatening someone?

Posted by: Kristy Location: MI on May 16, 2008 at 06:22 PM
And one more thing, This bear was probably less dangerous then some of the Human Criminals running around loose on the streets!

Posted by: Kristy Location: MI on May 16, 2008 at 06:19 PM
I AM totally outraged that they would use this tactic to take care of this bear! It wouldnt have taken much energy for animal control to get there and tranquillize this animal! I find that who ever made this decision should be held accountable for the poor choice. It is like the recent event in Illinois, where they shot the cougar/mountian lion DEAD. Instead of taking the step to sedate it and relocate it somewhere else. Michigan's wild life is what makes us special, and to have such DISREGARD for it, is awful! If any one of us shot and killed a bear without a permit or hunting license ,We would be called a POACHER,and we would be fined dearly for this, as by law we should. And I do believe the actions taken by this officer, he should Fined as well! And next time let us all hope that this type of situation is handled correctly. The black bear was probably just as confused as the cop.

Posted by: Dyan Location: Jackson on May 16, 2008 at 04:53 PM
This is just another senseless shooting by another officer. If the bear posed no threat, why shoot it? Sounds like the police got a little bit trigger happy. Of course, they are above the law.....they can shoot whatever, whenever. This is just terrible.

Posted by: Carl Location: Everywhere on May 16, 2008 at 03:11 PM
The bears were here first.

Posted by: Denny Location: Lansing on May 16, 2008 at 02:04 PM
What? Why would you not call animal control and tranquilize it and move it north? This just does not make sense to me?

Posted by: Debbie Location: Jackson on May 16, 2008 at 01:56 PM
I don't think that they needed to kill the bear. If that bear did not hurt anyone then that was a senseless shoting.They could have tranquilized it and moved it back to the wild area where it would be safe. I think people just get gun happy.

Posted by: Jamie Location: Williamston on May 16, 2008 at 01:50 PM
I am a avid hunter and i find this story sad!

Posted by: Diane Location: Eaton Rapids on May 16, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Was the bear posing some threat? It sounds like they shot it because it was there. How sad. Ever hear of tranquilizing and relocation?



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