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Black bear, attacking chickens and goats, was shot and killed by Middleton resident

MIDDLETON, Mass. — A Middleton resident shot and killed a black bear at his home Friday morning after the bear had attacked his goats and chickens, according to Mass. Environmental Police.

Police said Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. a black bear attacked and killed two goats at the residence home. Then on Friday morning, at 8:30 a.m., the residents found the same bear attacking their chickens in the chicken pen, killing eight of them.

One of the residents of the home shot and killed the 80-pound male bear before reporting the incident to Middleton police.

Although police are actively investigating the incident, they noted that a Massachusetts law allows residents to kill a bear caught in the act of damaging property under certain circumstances. So far, no charges have been filed, police said.

Environmental police also noted that black bear sightings are becoming increasingly common in eastern Massachusetts. Typically, the agency doesn’t directly intervene when bears venture onto homeowners’ property as bears usually move on in search of available food.

According to a release on Mass.gov Black bears killing chickens and damaging coops is becoming the number one source of human-bear conflict in Massachusetts. The state’s bear population is estimated at over 4,500 animals.

Officials recommend installing electric fences to deter these types of attacks from happening because coops and chicken wire provide “inadequate protection from black bears.”

Click here to learn more about black bears in Massachusetts.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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