Idaho boy, 11, shoots black bear on family's porch

[November 17, 2009]  DRIGGS, Idaho (AP) -- An 11-year-old boy shot a black bear on his family's front porch after he said it wouldn't leave.

The boy was at his home near Driggs, just west of the Idaho-Wyoming border, with his younger sisters last Wednesday when the bear showed up. The youngster said he couldn't shoo it away, so he went and got his gun and shot it.

Black bears in the area have prompted multiple complaint calls, largely because they've been hanging around a transfer station.

It wasn't clear if the bear shot by the boy was also attracted by the transfer station.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Officer Lauren Wendt said, "we got multiple complaint calls. We don't like to see them down this low. But it's not uncommon.'"'

Fish and Game doesn't plan on pursuing any claims against the boy or his family -- and they issued them a permit to keep the bear.

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Information from: Standard Journal, http://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/

[Associated Press]

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