A man who admitted shooting a non-aggressive black bear in Oregon County, Missouri, has discovered that frontier justice is the wrong way to deal with problematic bears. The Arkansas man is scheduled to appear in Oregon County Associate Circuit Court June 12 for killing the bear in the Mark Twain National Forest north of the Eleven Point River. With more people exploring America's wild lands, human encounters with bears are increasing, but they need not be disastrous for either species. Because it was killed on federal land, he also could be charged under federal law.
Federal penalties are considerably more severe than under state law.
American black bears have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1992. Missouri Department of Conservation Ozark Region Protection Supervisor Gary Cravens said law enforcement officials are still considering how to handle the case. After bear sighting reports and warnings, Cravens and three other conservation officials searched for the animal unsuccessfully near the man's campsite. Two days later the hunter called Cravens and admitted shooting the animal. The Arkansas man claimed he shot the bear out of fear, but officials cited him for illegally killing a bear.