Julie Strauja had her home broken into two days in a row by a bear. The bear injured her dog. She received a depredation permit from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to shoot and kill the bear if it posed a threat again. The woman also has three children. What would you do if the bear made another appearance inside your home a third day in a row?
Julie Strauja with Greg Orosco and her three children with Nugget. Nugget was injured in his hind quarters after defending his family against the bear. photo by Terry Pierson
During the third and final break-in by the bear, a friend of Strauja shot and killed the bear.
Your children’s lives, your own life and your dog’s life are in perpetual danger from serious harm and/or death. But, Strauja receives backlash for trying to save their lives? What is wrong with this picture?
Julie has received backlash and had her address posted all over social media in retaliation.
Some in her community felt she should’ve have used nonlethal measures to get rid of the bear. She did! She kept food out of the trash cans and used padlocks to keep the beat out.
“I have lived here for seven years and never had a problem with a bear going in (my) house,” said Pennie Justin, a Forest Falls resident who calls bears majestic creatures and has taken several photographs of the animals roaming the small town.
Justin said she feels, like many in the community, that Strauja should have used less lethal means to get rid of the bear.
“Go to a neighbor. Get in a car. They don’t hurt you as long as you leave them alone,” Justin said. “My son walks home at 2 o’clock in morning. No problem.”
Seriously, Pennie Justin?? Yes, bears are majestic creatures but when the lives of your loved ones are in extreme danger of a bear after entering your home for the third day in a row, you need to take charge! You say they don’t hurt you if you leave them alone??? Was this family supposed to sit back and watch the bear roam their house and attack their dog or them just as long they left the bear alone?
That’s insanity!
The worst part is what was said on social media to this woman. A Facebook post last Wednesday evening (August 3rd) that included Strauja’s address read, “Contact me if you want to legally make their life a living hell.”
The post has since been taken down but Strauja kept a screenshot of it.
I repeat – Her children’s lives, her life and her dog’s life were in immediate danger of serious harm and/or death!!
Julie Strauja and Greg Orosco tending to Nugget’s injury. photo courtesy of Terry Pierson
I love animals but am not opposed to killing an animal if my life or the life of my loved ones are in imminent danger of being killed. This is a no-brainer and I seriously think those in this community who have lashed out at Julie Strauja need to take a good, hard look at themselves. They’d rather have her family be the ones who are killed rather than the bear.
Insanity!
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and animal advocate. She hosts the show, ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” Have a story, please email Tina at tevangelistaepp@yahoo. Like my tv page at https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows you may have missed!
People are stupid. Drive away and leave the bear in your house. OMG! People are stupid!!!! It was worth repeating. People are nuts and crazy! Save the bear but not the people.
I concur. Some animal rights people are way oooooooouttttt there. I’m all for saving animals but when my family’s lives on the line, you need to know which takes precedence.
This woman not only had to fear for her and her children’s lives because of a bear now people are threatening their very lives. It doesn’t even make sense.
Let the bear enter their houses three days in a row and see what they do!
What is the reason to put out her address? If there are death threats,the police need to arrest them. That’s criminal. Why is there outrage over that? The woman was defending her family and should be commended not bashed. Where did this happen?
I feel sorry for this woman. She did what any normal mom would do and even went to wildlife officials and they agreed with her assessment which is why they gave her a permit to kill the beat and her “community” dumps on her and is cruel to her. What did they want to accomplish by giving out her address? They ought to be in jail for doing that. It’s a shame she just moved there last month. I would get the hell out of there. Not because I’m scared. Because I wouldn’t want my children raised around hateful and spiteful people. They are seriously messed up in the head. Get help people. Good luck Julie to you and your family. Hope Nugget recuperates completely. You are a good woman. Stay strong.
I’m glad she killed the bear. I would be scared s&^%$#** if a bear got into my home. I would be seen driving away from my house but not for the reasons that her neighbor said. Where did this happen? I would be screaming trying to run away from the dangerous animal. I respect bears but love my family and I’d do anything to protect them.
unfreaking unbelievable.
Stupid is as stupid does. Anyone with a brain can see she did the right thing. Her neighbors are surely wacky. Let’s see what they do if they have a bear in their house three times and it attacks their dog.
Animal rights people being wacko!