Is a serial wildlife poacher on the loose in Oregon?
Authorities in Oregon are investigating recent poaching incidents involving black bear cubs, a gray wolf, and a bighorn sheep.
Each incident occurred in Baker County during the last week of November, and in each case the animals were killed unlawfully and left to waste.
It was not known if a single poacher was responsible.
The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division stated in a news release that on Nov. 27 two bear cubs were found dead off USFS 77 Road inside the Keating Wildlife Management Unit.
Both animals had been shot.
On the same day, Fish & Wildlife troopers, acting on a tip, found a wolf carcass near Sparta Road, also within the Keating Wildlife Management Unit.
On Nov. 30, a trooper responded to the discovery of a bighorn sheep ram that had been shot and left – without its head and horns – near Hubbard Creek Road within the Lookout Mountain Wildlife Management Unit.
The Lookout Wildlife Management Unit is directly below the Keating Wildlife Management Unit.
The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for the unlawful killings.
The agency’s tip lines are 800-452-7888 or *OSP (for mobile phone users). Rewards are being offered in each case.
–Generic black bear image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas