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Bear cub carcass, hide recovered

Gregory Crofton, Sun News Service

The carcass of a bear cub missing since Dec. 4 was recovered Friday by California Department of Fish and Game.

Two residents of South Lake Tahoe were ticketed for allegedly stealing the dead cub from an unlocked El Dorado County Animal Control outdoor storage freezer.

An anonymous tip led Fish and Game to a man and a woman resident accused of the crime. Authorities refused Monday to identify the two residents until charges are filed in the case.



“The case is solved,” said warden Dave Bezzone. “The intent of two suspects was that they thought it would be a nice, small bear rug. They did not wish to utilize any portion of the carcass other than the hide.”

Bezzone said the suspects got nervous about having the dead cub and dumped it outdoors where it presumably was eaten by dogs. A portion of the animal was found on the banks of the South Upper Truckee River. Its hide was located on State Route 89.



Bezzone said the hide is in his possession and that it will be taken to Rancho Cordova and be kept as evidence.

The two middle-aged residents ticketed for stealing the 80- to 100-pound dead bear cub could be fined $1,000 and/or be sentenced to six months in jail for the misdemeanor.

“The tip was just sparse, which is typical,” Bezzone said. “It was just that these people had taken it.”


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