Tranquilizers safe

I’m concerned about the black bear shooting in my neighborhood Saturday, July 19. It raises questions about the warden’s decision-making and his support.

It’s not that I care more about the animal than about my own children’s safety. We play in Fairmount Park every day where the greatest risk is crossing the busy street. In Bangor, children face risks every day from predators such as human criminals or pit-bulls.

My children were at risk Saturday morning, but it wasn’t from a charging animal. It was from a shotgun blast. What were the options: Hope the bear wanders out of town? Kill it automatically? How about tranquilizing it? The myth about enraging a bear with a dart is a false argument. Wounding it with a gunshot is more dangerous. If he had a clean shot, the tranquilizer was a safe option, much less risky to the surrounding crowds.

With the recent bear sighting in City Forest, game wardens had ample time to prepare for bear-human contacts. Let’s have a full review of those policies so the next time a healthy 150 pound bear wanders, wardens have a better plan, better backup and better communication with Bangor police before they go running through the bushes shooting.

John Picone

Bangor