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Galena man shoots bear

by Jill Burke
Sunday, June 15, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A power plant supervisor in the city of Galena is credited with saving the lives of his neighbors as they were under attack by a bear.

Howard Beasley says the large male black bear had recently been in the area feasting on moose calves. When those ran out it started coming in closer to homes.

Beasley stepped in to help in the middle of the night after a neighbor - Chris Kriska and his little sister, couldn't shoo the aggressive bear away.

The Galena Police Chief John Millan says the Kiska's dog, Scooby, distracted the bear until help arrived.

Beasley says after he showed up the bear charged out of the woods hunched low, snarling and clearly was not ready to back down.

So with a single shot, he killed it.

"People came out and shook my hand, said it was the first good night of sleep they'd had in a long time," Beasley said. "People were having nightmares. I had no idea it had such a big impact on people."

Millan calls the shooting clearly justified.