Resident spots man with gun hunting in Barrington wildlife preserve

By Josh Bickford

A Sowams Road resident called Barrington Police at about 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, after spotting a man walking onto the Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve property carrying a shotgun.

The call spurred a widespread response that included the Barrington Police Department, the Seekonk and Swansea Police Departments, a K-9 unit, a Rhode Island State Police drone, and the Barrington Fire Department thermal imaging camera. Police eventually located the 70-year-old Swansea man who created the stir and, after speaking with the property owner, issued him a no trespass order for the wildlife preserve.

Barrington Land Conservation Trust President Cindy Elder is hoping the incident will serve as a reminder that hunting and trapping are not allowed on any of the land trust properties.