Estes Park Bear Cub Poaching
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are investigating a poaching crime in Estes Park involving a bear cub shot on private property on or immediately prior to August 12, 2012
The small bear cub was seen in the vicinity of the 1700 block of Fish Creek Road traveling with a its mother on the previous day. On the 12th of August citizens reported that the cub was struggling. On arrival the responding District Wildlife Manager found the unresponsive cub in the creek while the sow bear stayed nearby to protect the cub. A few minutes after the officer pulled the cub from the creek it died. On necropsy it was found that the cub bear had suffered a gunshot wound that was determined to have caused the cub’s death. Sadly, the mother bear stayed in the area for several days trying to find its cub.
Wildlife officers hope someone may have heard or seen something, or may have spoken to someone that may have information about the person or persons that shot this cub bear. Anyone with information about this case, or who may have witnessed suspicious activity, can contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648 or call District Wildlife Manager Rick Spowart at 970-667-2984.
Operation Game Thief is offering a $500 reward in this case, and a group of private individuals is offering a generous supplemental reward in addition to the OGT compensation. Operation Game Thief provides rewards for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect in poaching cases. Anyone with information can anonymously report information toll-free to Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648 (877-COLO-OGT). Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT. Information about the case can also be e-mailed to game.thief@state.co.us.