Bear Killed By Southbury Man: State Officials

SOUTHBURY, CT — A Southbury man has been arrested for killing a bear on Thursday, State Officials said. At 6:10 p.m. Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation Police and Southbury Police responded to a Pascoe Road home for a report of a male firing a gun at a bear.

Upon arrival officers located Joshua Gendron, 43, of Southbury, who stated that he shot a bear in his mother in-law’s yard, officials said.

"Officers’ on-scene observed numerous bear attractants placed in the yard including bird feeders, open bird seed, bread crumbs and apples. Gendron stated that he was summoned by his mother in-law to her house about a bear in the yard. Gendron allegedly retrieved a rifle and pistol before he proceeded to (the address). When he arrived at that residence, Gendron reportedly attempted to scare the bear away from the attractants by shooting the pistol several times in the direction of the bear. When the bear would not go away Gendron retrieved the rifle from his vehicle and shot the bear. Gendron did not possess a pistol permit," officials said in a news release.

Gendron was transported to Troop A with the assistance of the Southbury Police Department. The bear was brought to the Sessions Woods Wildlife unit for necropsy by a biologist.

Gendron is charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and illegal taking of a bear. He posted a $1,000 bond and was given a court date of June 5 in Superior Court, Waterbury.