Man faces charges in bear cub's death at Tahoe

Page Last Updated: Monday May 31, 2010 3:19pm PDT

TAHOMA, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities say a man faces misdemeanorcharges in the shooting death of a bear cub on Lake Tahoe's west shore.

California Department of Fish and Game officials say John Wilkinson of Tahoma is accused of shooting the animal in the neck May 21 and leaving its body in a ditch.

He's facing charges of the illegal take of a bear, the wanton waste of a carcass and failure to notify fish and game of the shooting.

Fish and game officials say initial reports indicate Wilkinson said he shot the year-old bear because it had attacked him.

They say neighbors in Tahoma notified law enforcement authorities after they saw what appeared to be the mother bear and another cub trying to fend off coyotes from the carcass.

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Information from: Truckee Sierra Sun

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