HorizontalHunter
NES Member
NORTHAMPTON — Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating after the carcasses of two deer and a black bear were found along the banks of the Connecticut River in the Northampton meadows, confirmed Katie Gronendyke, spokesperson for the state's Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Last week, a man named Mike Smith, who described himself as a Northampton native, told a reporter in a telephone interview that he was walking with his girlfriend along the river near Hockanum Road during the day on Sunday, Dec. 13 when he came upon the dead and mutilated animals. He said the animals had been thrown over the steep riverbank, and that there may have been other carcasses at the site as well.
Smith said it appeared as if someone had removed the antlers from both deer, perhaps with a saw. He said the bear carcass had a slash mark in its lower abdomen. Smith shared a cell phone photo that appeared to confirm his description. Smith said he wondered whether the animal's gall bladder had been removed.
There is reportedly a black market for bear gall bladders because they are prized in traditional Asian medicine practices. In 1989, Massachusetts investigators took part in an undercover operation against poaching in the Northeast which resulted in ten arrests in several states and revealed the slaughter of more than 400 black bears for their gall bladders.
Smith said while at the riverbank, he called Environmental Police and was told that someone would call him back. He said he called Northampton police, who told him that Environmental Police had been notified. Smith said he also called the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. After waiting, Smith said he left the area with no information as to whether authorities would follow up.
It turns out that Smith was not the only party to report the find on Dec. 13.
Records show that earlier that morning, another man called Northampton police to report what appeared to be two deer carcasses and a bear carcass dumped by the edge of the river. Officer Brent M. Dzialo responded to the scene around 8:21 a.m. and stayed for nearly half an hour. Environmental Police were notified, according to a police call log.
Read more:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/12/bear_deer_carcasses_found_alon.html
Last week, a man named Mike Smith, who described himself as a Northampton native, told a reporter in a telephone interview that he was walking with his girlfriend along the river near Hockanum Road during the day on Sunday, Dec. 13 when he came upon the dead and mutilated animals. He said the animals had been thrown over the steep riverbank, and that there may have been other carcasses at the site as well.
Smith said it appeared as if someone had removed the antlers from both deer, perhaps with a saw. He said the bear carcass had a slash mark in its lower abdomen. Smith shared a cell phone photo that appeared to confirm his description. Smith said he wondered whether the animal's gall bladder had been removed.
There is reportedly a black market for bear gall bladders because they are prized in traditional Asian medicine practices. In 1989, Massachusetts investigators took part in an undercover operation against poaching in the Northeast which resulted in ten arrests in several states and revealed the slaughter of more than 400 black bears for their gall bladders.
Smith said while at the riverbank, he called Environmental Police and was told that someone would call him back. He said he called Northampton police, who told him that Environmental Police had been notified. Smith said he also called the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. After waiting, Smith said he left the area with no information as to whether authorities would follow up.
It turns out that Smith was not the only party to report the find on Dec. 13.
Records show that earlier that morning, another man called Northampton police to report what appeared to be two deer carcasses and a bear carcass dumped by the edge of the river. Officer Brent M. Dzialo responded to the scene around 8:21 a.m. and stayed for nearly half an hour. Environmental Police were notified, according to a police call log.
Read more:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/12/bear_deer_carcasses_found_alon.html
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