A decapitated black bear joins a growing list of animals from a frenzy of poaching in Lane County, Oregonin recent weeks. The crimes appear to be random and opportunistic, and officials are looking for leads in multiple cases.
Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Josh Wolcott, who works with the state’s only conservation K9, a yellow lab named Buck, is traveling Lane County investigating wildlife crime scenes and searching for evidence.
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen. Things are happening all over Lane County right now,” Wolcott said, “Every day is a new report.”
Reports include the bear and multiple deer and elk so far. Wolcott takes Buck to poaching sites where the dog detects shell casings, gunpowder residue, and human scent; all of which can lead to a forensic bonanza. Tangible evidence helps, but even better would be a suspect’s name or a vehicle description.
When Wolcott discovered the black bear, he found a scene of carnage. The bear’s head, claws, backstrap, and some leg meat were removed. The majority of the carcass was left to waste. Poachers target black bears for their paws, claws, head and gall bladder. The gall bladder is an ingredient in some traditional medicine even though a synthetic version of bear bile is readily available. Wolcott said it is very possible the gall bladder had been harvested, but because of the condition of the carcass, he was unable to tell for sure.
OSPF&W troopers need public information in the following cases:
ODFW Wildlife Division Administrator Doug Cottam is disappointed in this situation.
“There are available and inexpensive opportunities to legally harvest a deer or bear to eat in Oregon. There is no excuse for poaching,” he said. “I am very concerned about people who kill wild animals just to satisfy their desire to kill something.
Stop Poaching campaign coordinator Yvonne Shaw agrees. “Poaching is someone’s instant gratification that creates an ongoing loss of natural resources for the rest of us in Oregon,” she said.