Gallbladder, paws removed from dead bear

‘We are very confident [the 2-year-old bear] was hit by a car. This desecration of the body was done afterward.’ — Andrew Hughan, California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman

When a highway maintenance crew in Canyon Country came across the dead body of a young bear early Thursday, it seemed at first an unfortunate but routine occurrence: another animal struck by a passing driver.

Then a state game warden inspected the 2-yearold, 150-pound bear and found something more gruesome.

The bear’s paws had been removed and its gallbladder harvested, according to Andrew Hughan, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Investigators suspect the bear, which was found near California 14 at Sand Canyon Road, was struck by a vehicle sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday, then mutilated.

“There were no signs of a gunshot, broken legs or hip — this was a crime of opportunity,” Hughan said. “We are very confident it was hit by a car. This desecration of the body was done afterward.”

Poachers particularly covet the bear’s gallbladder, which some people believe to have medicinal or aphrodisiac powers and can fetch thousands of dollars on the black market.

Bear paws also fetch a high price and can be cooked and served as a delicacy.

During the spring, bears 1 1⁄2 to 2 years old are pushed out of their mother’s care to make way for more cubs, a process known as displacement, Hughan said.

“They are off on their own, and sometimes they don’t know how to get out of the way of the car,” he added.