Authorities searching for bear in Kingston after it attacked a goat

Massachusetts Environmental Police are expected to be back in Kingston, Massachusetts searching for a bear attacked a man’s goat on Friday afternoon.

Officials say shots were fired on Hawthorne Road around 3 p.m. when the homeowner told Kingston police he was trying to scare the bear away, but the bear postured up towards him.

The man said he was afraid of being attacked so he shot the bear in the leg and it fled into the woods.

Wildlife officials say the injury is minor and local police say the resident does own the gun lawfully.

Kingston police and Massachusetts Environmental police have been looking for the bear since this incident yesterday afternoon but they haven’t been able to find it.

Officials will stay in the area for the next several days to make sure the bear can care for itself.

Kingston Animal Control released a statement to advise residents:

“Please be advised that if you own livestock, an electric fence is highly recommended, not only to keep your animals in, but keep the unwanted ones out. Make sure your livestock have a safe place to be turned in at night and access to during the day. We also ask that residents take in their bird feeders and trash to prevent the bears from having a food source.” they wrote.