Md. Man Charged After Shooting Black Bear, Orphaning Cubs

OAKLAND, Md. (WJZ) -- A Garrett County man faces charges after authorities say he shot a female bear with cubs in tow and left it for dead on his property.

David Stephens Wall, 53, of Oakland, is charged with hunting black bear out of season, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Wall, who police say had been warned previously to take down bird feeders in his backyard that were attracting bears, shot at the bear with a .22-caliber rifle Monday night. Wall said he stuck the rifle through the crack of a sliding door and opened fire at the bear on his deck about 15 feet away, telling investigators his goal was to scare it away.

In fact, his gunfire struck the bear -- and left it paralyzed.

When Wall found the bear alive the following morning, surrounded by its three cubs, he called the Black Bear Response Team, who brought in a biologist to euthanize the animal. Investigators ruled that Wall was not in danger at the time, did not have any livestock or pets at risk and had not called authorities for help.

The orphaned cubs are being monitored by department staff.

Wall, meanwhile, is set to appear in Garrett County District Court on Aug. 4. If found guilty, he could be fined as much as $1,500.

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