On October 26, a black mama bear and one of her cubs were fatally shot in the Sun ‘n Lake community in Sebring, Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) conducted an investigation and found who was responsible for the “cruel act”.
“Our employees work tirelessly to protect Florida’s natural resources, and this egregious violation serves as a reminder of why our work is so important.” , Colonel Roger Young, FWC Law Enforcement Division speak in a press release. “The intentional shooting of these two bears is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Under Florida law, it is illegal to shoot, injure, or kill a bear. Anyone found guilty could face fines and/or jail time.
But that didn’t stop John Falango, 43, from killing a female black bear and one of her cubs.
FWC officers arrived at the scene and trapped one of the two orphaned tiger cubs. The bear was examined and it was determined that the bear was large enough to survive on its own, so it was released back into the wild.
Falango faces 16 counts for illegally shooting and killing protected black bears. ONE declare released by the FWC said he was charged with the following:
- Illegal bear robbery in closed season – first degree misdemeanor, four counts.
- Making/attempting to capture a black bear without permission or permission – second degree misdemeanor, four counts.
- Capturing/attempting to capture a cub or a bear with one or more cubs – second degree misdemeanor, four counts.
- Committed/attempted to commit a crime by illegal means – second degree misdemeanor, four counts.
The State Attorney’s Office prosecuting the case hopes to throw the book at him.
An estimated 4,050 black bears call Florida home. Residents and visitors to the Sunshine State are required to be BearWise and take steps to prevent bears from entering their yards. FWC provides resources and tips to help people live peacefully with bears.
