Wasilla man ticketed for shooting garbage rummaging bear

July 13, 2007

WASILLA - A two-year-old brown bear met its end after rooting through trash in a Wasilla neighborhood.

Robert Pankoski, 39, lives in the Fairview Loop neighborhood and was issued a $310 citation for shooting across a roadway Saturday and court summons for taking a brown bear, according to Alaska State Troopers reports.

&#8220He called us after he shot the bear, and claimed it was in defense of life or property,” said Megan Peters, troopers spokeswoman. &#8220There was no immediate threat to his family.”

She said Pankoski told troopers that his family, including his young daughter, was inside their house at the time of the shooting. According to reports, he shot the more than 4-foot-long, male bear in the shoulder after it went through his garbage, ran across the road and began pacing.

The wounded bear ran into the woods, where troopers followed and destroyed it, Peters said. The number of bullets discharged is unknown.

Pankoski could not be reached for comment.

-Hannah Guillaume