RINGWOOD, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A 22-year-old New Jersey man was identified as the alleged shooter who illegally killed four black bear cubs over the weekend, NJ Advance reported.
The Ringwood man, Matthew Ligus, was issued summonses for the bears’ deaths which range in fines between $1,510 and $5,760, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection told the outlet.
The cubs were discovered on Sunday around 4 p.m. when New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation police officers got a call about the dead bears reported by a hiker in Ringwood State Park.
“(Police) responded to the scene, off Valley Road along the border of the state park, and began an investigation with assistance from NJ State Park Police and the Ringwood Township Police Department,” Larry Hajna, spokesperson for the NJDEP said in a statement to NJ Advance. “Upon arrival, they located a fourth dead bear cub.”
An investigation revealed that the bears had all been fatally shot. Officers continued their investigation Monday and issued Ligus summonses the next day.
Ligus received summonses for: hunting with firearm without a firearm license, hunting/taking of bear during a closed season, 4 counts, careless discharge of a firearm, 5 counts, hunt/discharge firearm within 450 feet of occupied dwelling, 6 counts, possessing/using Illegal ammunition, 2 counts and hunting/taking bear with and illegal weapon (rifle).
News of charges against Ligus came the same day Gov. Phil Murphy announced a bear hunt would begin in the state on Dec. 5 in designated areas. The hunt will not apply to cubs under 75 pounds nor bears traveling in family packs with cubs below 75 pounds.
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