Connecticut Law: Bears Can Only Be Killed in Self-Defense, Applying Human Murder Standards

“Thou shall not kill”

You’re not allowed to kill people.

It’s in the bible. It’s in our laws.

But you are allowed to kill a person in self defense.

Connecticut law gives you a hall pass on murder if you “reasonably believed the victim was going to inflict great bodily harm”

Every case is different and this definition is by no means a black and white rule. It’s subject to a jury hearing all the facts and evidence involved in your case and then making a decision on whether or not you had the reasonable belief that the person you killed was about to inflict great bodily harm upon you.

So if someone points a gun at you and you kill them, it’s pretty clear that you acted in self defense. Even if the gun wasn’t loaded, it’s totally “reasonable” to assume that someone pointing a gun at you probably means business. Even if if was a water gun that just looked like a real gun… It’s based on your “reasonable” belief of the danger. Personally, if someone points a gun at me that looks like a real gun, I think it’s pretty reasonable to assume the worst. Why wait and find out? And I think most juries would agree.

This is the standard in law used for when people kill people.

But what’s the standard used when people kill bears?

You’d probably think there was a more lenient standard right?

I mean, why should bears get the same legal protections as humans. They are bears afterall.

Well, it turns out that you can’t just kill a bear if it scares you. Self-defense when it comes to bears is judged by the same standard we use to justify human self defense.

A 2023 update to the state’s bear laws says that you need to have a reasonable belief that the bear will inflict great bodily harm upon you before you kill it (unless you have a special license.)

Theoretically, there may be more situations in which the law allows you to kill a person in self defense than there are situations you’re allowed to kill a bear!

If you do kill a bear and it wasn’t justified, you may be guilty of a class D misdemeanor! (the lowest class of misdemeanor) And you may be fined $500 and thrown in jail for 30 days!

The penalty for killing a bear is pretty low. This law was enacted to help conserve wildlife and stop bear murders.

Bears are expanding in Connecticut and ravaging trash bins across neighborhoods.

According to DEEP’s 2023 Bear Report, Simsbury, West Hartford and Granby are some of the “Beary-ist” neighborhoods, reporting over 400 bear sightings in each town.

Read the bear report below.

According to DEEP’s website, they say bears are pretty harmless and tend to avoid conflict. They will typically retreat into the woods if they see a human.

DEEP also says you should make noise if you’re hiking to be sure to ward off the bears. Clap your hands and make other noises if you see one.

And if a bear is becoming aggressive DEEP recommends the following:

1) speak calmly to the bear (try and talk him out of mauling you I guess)
2) back away slowly
3) if he does attack you and you can’t safely get away, try and fight him off

Alternatively, but not specifically mentioned by DEEP, you can try sticking a finger in the bears rectum. It works on pitbulls. Seriously, it’s a real thing.

Legally, if you want to avoid a Class D misdemeanor, only kill a bear if you think it’s going to hurt you, a loved one. The statute also says you can kill a bear if it attacks a “controlled pet.” Not sure what the statute means there, maybe as opposed to a rowdy pet who’s asking for it?

Anyway, if a bear so much as growls at me, I’m shooting first and asking questions later. I’ll risk the $500 fine. But that’s just me.