COVINGTON, Wash. — A neighborhood in Covington is on edge after a bear killed a couple of goats.
“That was a little disconcerting how heavily mutilated the carcasses were. And how they’d been dragged from one end of the fence line to the other,” described Amber Allen.
A neighbor’s trail cam got a video of the bear enjoying bird feed on her property. It’s believed that the same bear killed Allen’s goat late at night on May 19 and returned 72 hours later and killed the goat next door.
“To think of one of your pets to be annihilated that way was a little bit hard to handle,” added Allen.
Allen is especially heartbroken because she bottle-fed both goats and gave one of them to Kelly Cronn next door.
“The bear basically cleans them out and leaves fur and a skull,” said Cronn.
Allen contacted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and asked them to relocate the bear.
“We don’'t take depredation on livestock lightly. We don’t. But it's not black and white,” said Sgt. Kim Chandler.
Sgt. Kim Chandler says relocation isn’'t the answer since bears are likely to return to where they came from. Instead, he’'s asking for homeowners to do their part.
“You have to take the initiative to protect your stuff. Plain and simple. You have to put your livestock in at night,” Sgt. Chandler explained. “We place a lot of the responsibility on the home owner and on the hobby farmer. We’re not going to go in and trap a bear or cougar when the property owner hasn’t taken those steps.”
In both killings, the goats were not enclosed.
Allen worried because the trail the bear used is right behind property and it’s what her family uses to get to Soos Creek Trail. Not only does she own more livestock, she has three kids. She’s concerned the bear will return.
“He’s gone after livestock twice and then that he may be moving up, may be going after things because he’s hungrier,” Allen said.
Sgt. Chandler said the bear will return for more food. He said bears are hungry and opportunistic. While he said it’s not uncommon for bears to kill livestock, attacks on humans are unusual. He recommends residents eliminate all potential food sources for bears including bird feeders.
Allen simply wants Fish and Wildlife to reconsider relocation.