Connecticut father arrested for shooting a bear near his children—despite a law that allows killing bears that pose a threat to humans and pets.
At a Glance
- Todd Topicz was arrested after fatally shooting a black bear that entered his garage where his children were playing
- Topicz claimed self-defense as the bear came “within feet” of his children and chased their dog up a tree
- A 2023 Connecticut law allows killing bears in self-defense, but Topicz was still arrested by environmental officials
- State legislators have requested clarification from officials about implementing the bear self-defense law
- Topicz is now in a first-time offender rehabilitation program that could prevent charges from being filed
Father Arrested for Defending Family from Bear
Just when you thought the government couldn’t possibly find new ways to punish law-abiding citizens for protecting their families, Connecticut steps up to prove us wrong. Todd Topicz, a Connecticut father, now finds himself in legal trouble after shooting a black bear that wandered into his garage where his children were playing. The bear apparently had no respect for private property or human safety – much like the government officials who later arrested Topicz. Despite a 2023 law specifically allowing residents to kill bears that threaten humans or pets, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) still slapped Topicz with charges for illegal taking of a bear.
The incident occurred in August when Topicz’s pregnant wife alerted him that a bear had entered their garage, coming dangerously close to their children and chasing their family dog up a tree. Any reasonable parent would take immediate action to protect their family from a wild predator. Topicz grabbed his gun and fired what he intended to be warning shots to scare the bear away. He succeeded in driving the animal off, only later discovering that one of his shots had actually struck and killed the bear. Instead of recognizing this as a legitimate case of family protection, authorities decided to criminalize his actions after a neighbor reported finding the dead bear.
A father in Connecticut was arrested after he said he shot a bear in self-defense to protect his family. https://t.co/BDxN5XU93D
— CW 43 (@ClevelandCW43) April 18, 2025
Connecticut’s Contradictory Bear Law
The most absurd part of this entire situation is that Connecticut passed a law in 2023 specifically allowing residents to kill bears in self-defense. According to this law, individuals may legally kill a bear if it poses a threat to humans or pets, or if it enters an occupied building. By all accounts, Topicz’s situation checks all these boxes: the bear entered his occupied garage, threatened his children, and chased his dog. Yet somehow, the bureaucrats at DEEP decided that protecting your family from a wild bear warrants criminal charges. It’s a perfect example of government contradicting its own laws while punishing citizens who rely on them.
“He walked right into the garage with people in there. He didn’t care. So, who knows what would’ve happened next time?” – Todd Topicz
The confusion around this case has grown so pronounced that even state legislators are demanding answers. Several lawmakers have reached out to DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes requesting clarification on how exactly the bear self-defense law is being implemented. When elected officials who passed the law are confused about why someone is being arrested for following it, you know government overreach has reached absurd levels. Meanwhile, DEEP officials remain tight-lipped, refusing to comment on the case while Topicz and his family deal with the legal and emotional fallout from simply trying to stay safe from wildlife.
Legal Limbo for Protecting Your Family
Topicz is currently enrolled in an accelerated rehabilitation program for first-time offenders, which could prevent formal charges from being filed if completed successfully. It’s a small mercy in an otherwise ridiculous case, but the fact remains that a father is being forced into a rehabilitation program for the “crime” of protecting his children from a wild animal. This is exactly the kind of government overreach that makes Americans distrust their institutions. When self-defense against actual threats becomes criminalized, it makes you wonder what rights we have left that won’t be trampled by bureaucrats with clipboards and arbitrary enforcement policies.
“We were all threatened. It entered our home. And I have no idea why DEEP ended up charging me for this.” – Todd Topicz
The message from Connecticut officials seems clear: they value the life of a wild bear over your right to protect your family in your own home. While the state passes laws appearing to support self-defense, the enforcement tells a completely different story. This case isn’t just about one father and one bear – it’s about whether Americans can trust that their government will respect their most basic right to protect their children from harm. For now, Topicz’s case reminds us that in Connecticut, you might be better off letting the bear have the run of your house than risk defending your family from it – and that’s a reality that should alarm every American who values their safety and freedom.
