April 29, 1965 — A marauding black bear was shot to death at the Page Valley Estates last Thursday after a raid on property in the area.
The fatal shot was delivered by Joe Sottosanti Thursday evening about 10 p.m. after the bear had made a raid on garbage cans, etc., on his property. Sottosanti said he was aware of the fact that it was illegal to shoot a bear at this time and that he had consulted with the game warden concerning the matter.
His instructions were to shoot over the animal’s head. This he tried to do he told a PN&C reporter, but it was difficult to spot the bear in the darkness, he said. Next morning he found some blood on leaves near his home and reported it to game wardens. The animal weighing an estimated 300 pounds was found Friday about three hundred yards away with a bullet wound in the eye.
Those who examined the carcass said they believed two shots had been fired although Sottosanti did not mention but one shot.
Sottosanti is the father of five small children several of which walk for three miles to get a school bus. He said he feared for the safety of his children under these conditions and that the animal wandering about his home was a threat to the peace and safety of his family.
No charges were made by game wardens.
The carcass of the animal required a tractor to remove.
~ From the public archives of the Page News and Courier
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