Man under scrutiny for killing yard bear

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GLOVERTON, Newfoundland, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- A Newfoundland man who shot and killed a stubborn black bear in his front yard could face charges, wildlife officials suggested.

The shooting incident last week in Glovertown in central-eastern Newfoundland sparked an investigation by provincial officials who seized the rifle Colin Oram used to kill the bear, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Oram had reported several encounters with a bear on his property this month and officials had set up a live trap, but had no success capturing the wild animal.

Oram told the CBC he was awakened at 3 a.m. by his two dogs barking at the bear on his front porch.

He said he tried yelling to scare the bear away, but it only plodded down some steps and sat in his yard. That's when he got his rifle and shot it.

"My dad always said that if a bear don't go away when you try to shoosh him away, there's something wrong," he said.

He said he called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police right away, who in turn contacted wildlife officials.

Oram's rifle was confiscated and he was told he was under investigation.

Since June, 15 bears have been trapped and relocated from the town, the report said.