A man in Georgia faces charges after killing a black bear that he told investigators was attacking his livestock, WRDW Augusta reported on September 27. I checked the outlet’s report, which identifies the man as Gero and says he told investigators he saw the bear eating a chicken in his yard before he shot it.
What the report says
WRDW Augusta’s story does not name the specific county where the shooting occurred, nor does it list the exact charges Gero is facing. The report states that wildlife officials were involved, and the case is now in the hands of prosecutors, who will decide whether the killing was justified under Georgia’s rules for taking a bear that threatens livestock.
Georgia law generally allows a landowner to kill a bear that is in the act of attacking livestock or crops, but the person must report the kill to the state wildlife agency, and the bear must be actively causing damage at the time. The WRDW article does not say whether Gero reported the shooting immediately or whether investigators determined the bear was still a threat when it was killed.
What this means for a homeowner
For Georgia residents who raise chickens, goats, or other livestock, this case is a reminder that killing a bear is not automatically legal just because the bear is nearby. The state’s wildlife agency, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, publishes the specific conditions under which a bear may be taken, and failing to meet them can turn a justified kill into a criminal charge.
If a bear is seen on the property attacking livestock, the safest step is to contact the state wildlife office first, and only intervene if the attack is happening at that moment. Gero’s case shows that even a true story about a bear eating a chicken can lead to a court review. The primary source, WRDW Augusta, confirmed the facts of the incident in its original reporting.
The notice is published by WRDW Augusta at www.wrdw.com.
