Poachers killing black bears in Great Lakes region; the animal is a delicacy in some Asian cultures

Overseas demand for black bear organs has led to poaching in the Great Lakes region. Four people were arrested in Michigan in August for illegally purchasing and selling black bear parts, Courtney Bourgoin reports for Great Lakes Echo, a project of the journalism department at Michigan State University. The Michigan House was expected to vote this week on stricter bear poaching bills. (National Park Service photo by Neal Herbert)

"The World Wildlife Fund says that bile from bear gallbladders provides an active ingredient for traditional medicines used in Asian cultures," Bourgoin writes. "Those who follow the practices believe it aids colds, inflammation and liver-related diseases." Bear paw soup is also "a cultural delicacy in countries like China, North Korea, South Korea and Japan."

Michigan United Conservation Clubs, a coalition of outdoor groups, is pushing for stricter punishment and "supports state legislation to increase restitution to the state from $1,500 to $2,000 per animal," Bourgoin writes. "Hunting license suspensions would increase from three to five years under bills sponsored by Sens. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair Township) and Dale Zorn (R-Ida.)." (Read more)

House subcommittee to look at Appalachian poaching sting in North Carolina, Georgia

House lawmakers will be in Waynesville, N.C., on Friday to look into the controversial Appalachian program, "Operation Something Bruin," a partnership between state and federal agencies to conduct undercover investigations into illegal activities involving bears and other wildlife in North Carolina and Georgia. (Operation Something Bruin photo: Illegal bear trap)

"In 2013, state and federal officials trumpeted the four-year-long operation after it found 900 violations of wildlife law and led to prison time for seven men," Kevin Bogardus reports for EnergyWire. "Since then, local media and state legislators have found discrepancies in what was reported at the time."

Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations "will look into those recent findings that agents allegedly had entrapped hunters, invaded their privacy and confiscated property unrelated to the operation," Bogardus writes.

100+ arrests made in Appalachian poaching sting

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2013/02/25/11