Ringwood man faces charges for illegal killing of 4 bear cubs

Matthew Ligus, 22, faces a number of charges, including hunting without a firearm license and the possession/use of illegal ammunition.

News 12 Staff

Nov 16, 2022, 4:33 PM

Updated 758 days ago

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A Ringwood man is facing charges after he was accused of illegally killing four bear cubs in Passaic County.
Authorities say Matthew Ligus, 22, killed the cubs this past weekend.
Ligus was issued several summonses and could face fines of up to $6,000.
The bear cubs were beloved in the community. Photos of the dead cubs were posted on social media over the weekend by outraged residents.
“Ringwood is a community, for the most part, that is very upset about this. People who live in Ringwood know they live in the woods,” says resident Dana Brady. “Me and my husband - we love looking out the window and seeing bears. We take pictures and video."
Ligus faces several charges, including hunting without a firearm license, the hunting of bears during a closed season and possessing or using illegal ammunition.