Black Bear Cub Euthanized After Getting Caught In Illegal Trap

Alaska State Troopers charged a Juneau man after his trap was illegally left open, which trapped a black bear cub on Douglas Island. Wildlife troopers had to euthanize the animal.

Here’s more from KTVA:

Mark Mitchell, 39, was issued a court summons on one count of attempting to trap wolves during a closed season, according to a trooper dispatch.

The case is connected to snares troopers say Mitchell left near Ready Bouillon Creek on Douglas Island near Juneau, an area where the wolf trapping season ends on April 30. On May 29, Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff told troopers one of those snares had caught a black bear cub.

“[Fish and Game] had responded and determined that the bear had suffered extensive injuries as a result of the snare and needed to be euthanized,” troopers wrote.

Here’s a photo taken by troopers of the trapped bear.

https://twitter.com/ktva/status/1007466799074611200

Among the penalties Mitchell is facing is the revoking of his hunting privileges until November due to a previous violation.  Here’s the full dispatch from AST:

Text: On 5/29/18, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Juneau Post, received a report from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) that a Black Bear cub had been caught in a snare near Ready Bouillon Creek on Douglas Island.  ADF&G had responded and determined that the bear had suffered extensive injuries as a result of the snare and needed to be euthanized. 

Investigation revealed that the snares had been placed there earlier in the year by Mark Mitchell, age 39 of Juneau, with the intent of trapping/snaring wolves. Further investigation revealed that the snares had been left out and in an active condition after the wolf trapping season had closed for that particular area on 4/30/18.  Mitchell was contacted on 6/13/18 and issued a criminal summons for 1 count of attempting to trap wolves during a closed season.  Mitchell’s hunting privileges are currently revoked until November of 2018 for previous hunting violations. Mitchell has a mandatory court appearance in the District Court at Juneau on 6/21/18 at 1100 hours.