The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is searching for two people caught handling a dead black bear while trespassing on private property near Oso, Snohomish County.
The two men are believed to have poached the bear, according to Fish and Wildlife. A video captured Sept. 20 shows the pair giggling while one man drags the bear and the other holds a rifle. A sign in the background reads, “No trespassing hunting or fishing.”
While black bear season is underway, “the alleged subjects poached the black bear on clearly marked private property that they did not have permission to be on nor allows public hunting access,” the department said in a social media post.
Oso" happens to mean "bear in Spanish.
This year’s black bear season stretches from Aug. 1 to Nov. 15, according to Washington big game hunting regulations. Hunters are required to obtain a license and hunting tag before pursuing up to two black bears. They are also required to extract and submit a tooth from each bear killed.
Rules bar hunters from shooting cubs and adult bears traveling with cubs. Becky Elder, a spokesperson for WDFW police said the bear in the video is believed to be about 2 years old and not considered a cub. Still, poaching on private property has consequences.
In addition to getting their hunting licenses revoked, the pair could face a misdemeanor charge for hunting while trespassing, Elder said. They also could face fines up to $500 and up to a year in jail.
The department asked people with information on the case, including the whereabouts of the bear, to contact WDFW police at 877-933-9847 or reportpoaching@dfw.wa.gov, or text 847411.
Poaching also can be reported online on WDFW’s website. Anyone with information leading to an arrest could be rewarded with money or bonus points toward special hunts.
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