Man who shot bear in Pickens County identified; cubs rescued

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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources released this photo which shows where a black bear fell after it was shot from a window by a homeowner in the Bent Tree community in Pickens County.

PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has released the incident report detailing the killing of a black bear in the Bent Tree community in Pickens County.

Landy Sok, 35, was cited for illegally killing a female black bear after a series of encounters outside his home along Oglethorpe Mountain Road.

What we know:

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Sok shot the bear from a side window of his home using a .22-caliber pistol on May 15. Sok told investigators he aimed for the bear's hindquarters to scare it off and did not intend to kill it.

RAW: Mother bear killed in Pickens County

A mother bear with two cubs was killed late last week in Pickens County. This is believed to be video of that mama bear and her cubs that was taken a few hours before the mother bear was shot and killed by a Bent Tree resident. Video courtesy of Bent Tree resident.

The following day, the director of Bent Tree Public Safety contacted state bear biologist Adam Hammond to report the dead bear, which was found about 60 to 65 yards from Sok’s residence with two cubs lying on top of her. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Wildlife Resources Division responded to the scene.

DNR Game Wardens Hunter Rush and Travis Shrader investigated and documented the incident, including body camera footage, photographs, and statements from Sok. No bullet wound was visible on the bear’s body, but officials observed blood from the animal’s nose and mouth, indicating internal injuries consistent with a gunshot.

The two bear cubs were safely caught on Thursday night and Bent Tree officials say they will eventually be moved to a wildlife preserve where they will be taken care of.

"Although we would have loved for these cubs to be Bent Tree bears, this is now the best option for them," Bent Tree Safety & Emergency Management wrote on Facebook. "We will never forget about these special cubs."

The two orphaned cubs safely caught in a trap. (Bent Tree Safety & Emergency Management)

What they're saying:

"I feared for my life," Sok told the game warden who responded to the call, according to the report. He told officers the bear had approached his porch multiple times that day, pawing at the glass front door during one incident while his dogs barked inside. He added that he had seen the bear three times on May 15 and that it did not respond to yelling or a car alarm before returning late that night.

Sok acknowledged he did not report the shooting, believing the small caliber weapon wouldn't have killed the animal. He said he didn’t see the cubs at the time and would not have fired if he had.

"I explained to Mr. Landy that the bear was on his porch because it smelled the food odor," Game Warden Rush wrote, noting Landy had a food bowl on the porch for his cat. "Bears are opportunistic feeders… they are like big raccoons."

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says this photo shows things would lure unintentionally lure a black bear to a property in the Bent Tree community in Pickens County.

The investigation revealed Sok had exchanged text messages with a local public safety officer earlier that evening. In one message, Sok asked, "Can I shoot him?" and attached a video of the bear on his porch. The officer responded, "You can’t shoot him, but you can call public safety to scare him away." Investigators determined Sok never contacted public safety for assistance that night.

What's next:

On May 20, Sok was issued a citation for violating a Georgia law, which prohibits taking a bear out of season or without a permit. The charge is a criminal violation that requires a court appearance.

According to officials, the case was reviewed by Assistant District Attorney Jefferson Adams and forwarded to Pickens County District Attorney Frank Wood's office. A criminal investigator confirmed that prosecution would proceed.

What you can do:

The Georgia DNR continues to emphasize that feeding wildlife, even unintentionally, can lead to dangerous situations.

SEE ALSO:

• Mother bear killing in Pickens County sparks investigation, community outcry
• Man charged in death of mother bear in Pickens County community