FORT WALTON BEACH –Wearing a special device that allowed him to hear attorneys, 82-year-old Ralph Ward shared an old-fashioned perspective Thursday on the relationship between man and animal at his trial for shooting two Florida black bears.
Under questioning from his attorney, Glenn Swiatek, Ward testified that while he shot “at” three bears that jumped a fence and charged him, he sure didn’t kill the mother and a 30-pound cub.
The prosecution could be sidetracked if Maney rules in favor of a motion filed by Swiatek. Swiatek noted after Madden rested her case that she never brought anyone to testify that the bears killed were threatened Florida black bears.
Killing a bear other than a Florida black bear is not criminal offense in Florida, Swiatek said.