http://www.wnbc.com/news/3859119/detail.html

Woman Fined For Chaining Self Inside Bear Trap
Activist Cites Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr. In Court

POSTED: 12:41 am EDT October 27, 2004
UPDATED: 1:05 am EDT October 27, 2004

VERNON TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- An animal rights activist who chained herself to a bear trap has been fined more than $1,000 by a municipal judge who found her guilty of trespassing and obstruction.

Angi Metler staged her protest in August after an elderly couple who have a summer cottage in Vernon asked the state Division of Fish and Wildlife for help in getting rid of a pesky black bear. The animal had once even clawed its way into their screened-in porch, the couple said.

Wildlife officers set a trap and baited it with bacon and molasses. Division policy is to kill bears that threaten people, but Metler, 47, said that approach only encourages people to fear bears.

On Aug. 23, the day of her protest, Metler climbed into the trap, a large metal cylinder with bars at both ends, and chained herself to it with a bike lock.

She spent about an hour inside while arguing with her neighbors, Leonard and Priscilla Smith. Eventually the Smiths called police, who freed Metler and then arrested her.

On Tuesday, Judge Walter Koprowski ordered Metler to pay a $1,068 fine.

In court, Metler read a statement expressing her love for bears and her belief in civil disobedience. "I have respect for the law, but I also have profound respect for Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Boston Tea Party participants," said Metler, a medical technician.

The judge cleared Metler of two charges, criminal mischief and hindering the lawful taking of wildlife. She has 13 days to pay the fine or appeal. Metler said she had not decided whether to appeal.




I don't think it's enough money to teach her to avoid these extremist measures. A friend joking around a bit said back when this whole thing started said the game warden should have come by, tranked her, taken her to south jersey, tossed her out and rubber buckshot her to teach her a lesson and not to come back. In a humorous way I think it would wake her up but in reality I think judges should come down harder on these people to teach them not to act out in such inappropriate manners.

They should have left her in there, the bear could have enjoyed a plentiful last supper on his way to the gas chamber! I wonder if she would have reconsidered her position when the bear would have entered the trap and began the feast?

I agree she should pay a higher fine, we are talking about tresspassing, destoring goverment property. This women is so stupid. If it was up to me I would of left her in there, allow the bear to enter the look on her face PRICELESS

I think the fine was a bit light also!

I agree

they should have fined her harder than that, then they should've thrown her in jail for a while or left he rfor bait

They should have transported her to the lockup in that thing instead of letting her out, maybe it would have shook some sense in her. I think the fine will get her attention if she has to pay it herself which she proablly doesn't.

This was not her first offense and it will not be her last. There is definately something mentally wrong with this woman and I hope she doesn't hurt anyone.

Also, what they don't tell you in the story is when they reset this trap and went to pick it up a week later it was soaked with human urine. I'm sure she was involved with that as well.

And too think that Campbell claims that NJ doesn't have that many bears. I've seen more bears this year then deer so far. I was having lunch 2 weeks ago at JUMBOLAND in Sussex Co. people up there told me and my friend that they are seeing more bears then in years past. One lady said everyday she sees a sow with 3 cubs, another lady has 5 in her yard everyday.