The homeowner who shot a bear cub with a BB gun will not face any criminal charges, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Officials from the D.E.E. P. were called out to the home of Roderick Lynch on Bonnie Drive in Farmington around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, and found a bear cub paralyzed.
"Because the injuries were so severe, we had to euthanize the animal, " said Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the agency.
Lynch told investigators he was forced to shoot the bear with his BB gun out of concern for his pug, who was outside in the yard.
No charges will be filed in the case, said Schain.
"We made a determination that there was no intent to use lethal force. It appeared that the homeowner was just trying to scare the bear off. Also, the dog was not running loose," said Schain.
No one answered the door at Lynch's home. Neighbors say they often see bears in the neighborhood and that there's never been a problem with them before.
"These bears have never bothered us. We've lived in harmony with the bears. I'm very sad to have this happen and I think it was a bad decision on this man's part," said Marie DeAngelis, who lives two houses down from where the incident occurred.
Lynch's dog was not hurt in the ordeal, according to Schain.
