Game and Fish: Bear aggressively tried to break into Payson home
PAYSON, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Officials with Arizona Game and Fish Department said Thursday evening that a bear has been captured and euthanized, after it aggressively tried to enter a Payson home.
The incident, according to a statement, began on Tuesday evening. A man, identified by Game and Fish officials as Joseph Stapp, was asleep when he heard a loud crash on the porch of a home he is building.
"I looked out the front door, and the bear and I were face to face," said Stapp. "He was pushing on the door, and I was pushing back. I was not scared, but I couldn't shoo him."
According to the statement, it was the third day in a row that the bear had visited, causing property damage on the front and back porches. A neighbor was able to scare the bear off by throwing rocks, but the bear returned later that night, and again on Wednesday. When the bear returned, it attempted to enter Stapp's home, Stapp called 911, and the bear was live-trapped near the home.
The bear, according to Game and Fish officials, was euthanized according to policy, because of its aggressive behavior, and lack of fear toward humans.