Current Cases | Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Current Cases

Bear Killed, Dumped in Snowmass Village

Image of bear shot and left in dumpster near Snowmass Village.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating the death of a bear found dumped near a trash enclosure in the Two Creeks subdivision in the Town of Snowmass Village Saturday morning.

Officials are asking the public for any information that may lead to the individual or individuals responsible.

"Even the smallest detail may help," said District Wildlife Manager Kevin Wright. "It's often that information from the public helps us solve a case like this."

Officers believe someone killed the adult sow Friday evening before taking the carcass to the trash enclosure overnight. They are pursuing leads from evidence gathered at the scene and have performed a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

"Killing a bear and abandoning the carcass is a serious offense," said Wright. "However, the person who did this still has the opportunity to do the right thing turn and themselves in."

Wright reminds the public to contact the nearest Colorado Parks and Wildlife office to report any conflict with wildlife.

Anyone who may have information about this incident can call Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Glenwood Springs office at 970-947-2920. To remain anonymous, call Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Rewards are available if the information leads to a citation.

For more information about poaching, please visit the Operation Game Thief page, or for information about co-existing with bears, please visit the Living with Bears online resource center.

Wildlife Officers Seek Info In Akron-Area Poaching Incident

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking information about a poaching incident in northeastern Colorado near Akron. The carcasses of four deer were found dumped in a field west of the town of Akron. The field is located about one and a half miles south of Highway 34 on Washington County Road U.

At least two of the carcasses had trophy parts removed but meat on the carcasses was left to waste. It is a crime in Colorado to harvest a big game animal and not prepare the meat for human consumption.

Officers believe that the carcasses were dumped between Saturday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Evidence at the scene suggests that the animals had been shot with a rifle. The last plains rifle deer season ended on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The carcasses also were skinned and may have been hung for processing at another location for an undetermined amount of time.

Anyone with information can contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Office in Brush at 970-842-6300. Operation Game Thief is also offering a $500 cash reward for information that leads to a citation or arrest in this case. If you have information about this case and would like to remain anonymous, contact Operation Game Thief toll free at 877-265-6648 (877-COLO-OGT). Tips can be e-mailed to game.thief@state.co.us.

For more information, see the full press release.

Wildlife Officials Seek Info in Deaths of Three Moose

Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are asking for the public's help in identifying the person or persons responsible for killing a cow moose and her two calves in an empty lot within Mountain Shadows Estates, a subdivision located on County Road 6421 between Granby and Grand Lake.

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., a witness hunting near the subdivision reported to wildlife officials that he heard several shots fired in rapid succession. Upon investigating, the witness says he found the cow and a calf dead, the other calf dying, and that no one immediately approached the carcasses to claim responsibility.

"This is an outrageous incident," said Northwest Regional Manager Ron Velarde. "My officers are preparing an all-out effort to find the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice."

Anyone with information can call Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Hot Sulphur Springs at 970-725-6200, or Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648 if they wish to remain anonymous. OGT is offering a $2500 reward for information that leads to the suspect. Officials from Safari Club International have offered to match this amount, bringing the current reward to $5000.

"So far, we have a description of a suspicious vehicle, and our investigation turned up important evidence at the scene," said Area Wildlife Manager Lyle Sidener. "With the public's continued help, we are confident that we can find who did this."

Individuals who illegally kill a big game animal and abandon the carcass face a permanent loss of their hunting and fishing privileges, significant fines, felony charges and a possible prison sentence.

Poaching continues to be a concern for wildlife officials. The public is reminded that poachers are criminals who take away opportunity from legal and responsible hunters, and steal wildlife from the citizens of the state.

Anyone who sees suspicious wildlife activity should contact a local District Wildlife Manager, or Operation Game Thief toll-free at 877-COLO-OGT (877-265-6648). Callers contacting the tip line remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if the information leads to a citation. Tips can be e-mailed to game.thief@state.co.us.

For more information, read the full press release.

Clues Sought in Lamar Pronghorn Poaching

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are asking the public for help solving a pronghorn poaching near Lamar. Wildlife officers found two pronghorn antelope dumped near North 13th and Canal Road on Oct. 13, 2012.

Portions of the animals were missing, but the meat was left.

Anyone who saw any suspicious activity or has information should call Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer Kevin Mahan at 719-940-0233 or call the toll-free poaching tip line at 1-877-265-6648. Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT, or tips can be e-mailed to game.thief@state.co.us.

Anyone who comes forward with information that leads to a citation is eligible for a cash reward from Operation Game Thief. In some cases, people who turn in poachers are eligible for preference points or a free hunting license for a future season.

Tennessee Men Sentenced for Poaching Bear

Two men from Tennessee were sentenced in Garfield County Court earlier this month for their role in a felony, bear poaching incident in August.

Harley Boss Manley, 51, of Martin, Tenn., pleaded guilty to a charge of killing a black bear before Sept. 1- the start of the fall, bear hunting season. He was given a mandatory five-year suspension of his hunting privileges, a two-year deferred prison sentence for felony willful destruction, forfeit his bow, ordered to pay a fine of $4,000 and donate $6,000 to Operation Game Thief, a Colorado tip line for wildlife infractions. David Ronnie Coleman, 62, of Union City, Tenn., also pleaded guilty to killing a black bear before Sept. 1, and received a mandatory five-year suspension of his hunting privileges. He was fined $3,000 and ordered to donate $4,000 to OGT.

"This was a serious offense these two men committed," said Perry Will, Area Wildlife Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Glenwood Springs. "It took considerable man-hours and investigation to bring them to justice and my officer is to be commended for his excellent work in this case."

District Wildlife Manager, Dan Cacho says that he and his fellow wildlife officers investigate all violations thoroughly.

"Poachers are criminals that steal wildlife from the citizens of Colorado, and take opportunities away from legitimate hunters," continued Cacho. "The public's help is critical to stop them, and we encourage anyone with information about poaching or other wildlife violations to contact authorities immediately."

See the full press release.

To provide information about illegal wildlife activity, contact Operation Game Thief toll-free at 877-265-6648. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for cash rewards for information that leads to a poacher.

To learn more about how to help solve a poaching case, please visit: Operation Game Thief.

Last Updated: 6/4/2013 3:58 PM