PA Game Commission Files Charges in Illegal Killing of Bear

DALLAS, Pa., June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Jim McCarthy, on June 21, filed charges against two men from Gouldsboro, Wayne County, for the unlawful killing of a 600-pound male black bear. Filed in Magisterial Judge Bonnie L. Carney's Office, in Hawley, the charges were against Raymond Carl Kresge, Jr., age 40, and Raymond Carl Kresge, Sr., 66. If convicted, the father-and-son duo faces $1,800 in fines each, as well as $5,000 each for restitution in the case and costs of the DNA evidence.

On Sept. 29, a large male black bear was found unceremoniously dumped in the State Game Land 312 parking lot on Route 507, Gouldsboro. The bear was killed by a single gun shot to the head. It is believed to have been killed a day or two prior to being found, and evidence and information was obtained from the scene.

On Oct. 30, Lehigh Township Police officers stopped Kresge, Sr., on a moving violation, for which he was charged with driving without a license. After noticing what appeared to be bear hair on the bumper, Lehigh Township Police notified the Game Commission Northeast Region Office. After confirming that bear hair was on the bumper of the truck, Game Commission officers impounded the vehicle and obtained a search warrant.  Once the warrant was secured, additional evidence was found and sent to Dr. Jane Huffman, Northeast Wildlife DNA Lab at East Stroudsburg University, for testing.

WCO McCarthy said the DNA tests confirmed that the dead bear had been in the back of Kresge's truck.

Note to Editors: If you would like to receive Game Commission news releases via e-mail, please send a note with your name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization you represent to: [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission