After receiving a report of two dead bear cubs in the Naknek River on June 17th, Alaska State Troopers met with 36-year-old Katie Copps-Wilson of Naknek to ask her about the bear carcasses.

The investigation into the shooting of the two bears revealed that Wilson had shot the animals in defense of life or property.

But, instead of following state regulations, Wilson chose to dispose of the carcasses in the Naknek River.

According to Alaska’s state regulations regarding the killing of an animal in defense of life or property, the person that disposed of the animal must salvage the hide with the claws intact and also salvage the skull of the animal. This is required of bear, and wolves. For other large game animals, the meat needs to be salvaged and turned over to authorities. The person is also required to submit a written report to the Department of Fish and Game within fifteen days of the killing of the animal.

If the person is unable to fill out the form for whatever reason, the officer who is initially contacted, whether it is a ADF&G staff person or Wildlife Officer or State Trooper, is to fill out the report with the information given to him or her by the person who dispatched the animal. That report can be found here.

As a consequence of not reporting the shooting of the two bear cubs and properly caring for the carcasses, Wilson was charged with two counts of Failure to Report or Salvage a Brown Bear Taken in Defense of Life or Property.

Wilson’s arraignment is scheduled for July 9th in the Naknek District Court.