warning for taking Florida road kill bear

[Emily]

Think any of us would get off so easily?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 5906.story

Wildlife officials say: Don't pick up dead bear remains


By Anthony Colarossi, Orlando Sentinel
2:14 p.m. EST, December 8, 2009

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State wildlife officials are warning folks not to pick up the remains of dead bears found along Florida's highways and roads, following a Volusia County incident last week in which a roadkill bear was removed from a scene and then skinned and butchered.

Officials said Gary Evers of Orange City, apparently heard about a large, dead black bear found on Interstate 4 in Volusia last week. He wanted to have the bear mounted, so he sent his son, Christopher Evers and two employees to go pick up the remains.

The father told his son to check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission first to see if it was legal to take the remains, but that was not done.

When Christopher Evers and two others arrived on the scene, a state Department of Transportation official told them they could take the carcass, but said they needed to check with FWC first. Again, the wildlife officials were not contacted.

Later, the animal was skinned so that its hide could be mounted, FWC officials said. The bear was also butchered and its meat cut into steaks, FWC officials said. The body parts were placed in coolers.

Gary Evers later learned through a news report that wildlife officials were looking for the bear carcass because, FWC spokeswoman Joy Hill said, "it is against they law to pick them up or possess them."

Evers then called FWC and reported what had happened.

FWC Law Enforcement Officer Chris Goodreau later gave warnings to Christopher Evers, 27, of Orange City; Anthony M. Pitti Jr., 46, of Port Orange; and Stephen E. Germany, 38, of Cassadaga. They were warned for possessing Florida black bear parts.

"Because another law enforcement officer told them they could take the bear, the father called in to report the whole thing, they didn't try to hide the parts and willingly cooperated with the investigation, I gave them written warnings," Goodreau said. "They didn't kill the bear – they just picked it up."

FWC officials took the bear remains and disposed of them, except for the hide, which will be used to help educate people about the bears.

Officials say if you find a black bear on the side of the road, you should call FWC at 888-404-3922, report the sighting and continue driving. An official will come by and remove the dead animal.