Burlington Man Charged with Killing Black Bear

A Burlington man was charged on Tuesday with illegally killing a black bear, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

DEEP officials said in a news release that they were called to 4 Cobblestone Road, Burlington, at 7:30 on Tuesday morning after a resident reported hearing gunshots and then seeing a bear come into his yard and lay down.

After investigating, Cory J. Maitz, 42, of 6 Cobblestone Road, Burlington, was arrested and charged with illegally killing a black bear — a misdemeanor — and criminal possession of a firearm — a felony.

DEEP officials said it appeared that Maitz shot the black bear — a male weighing about 460 pounds — with a pistol after seeing it enter his garage and backyard. Both the bear and the pistol were seized as evidence.

Maitz was released and is scheduled to appear at Bristol Superior Court on June 4.