Alaska Father, Son Accused Of Killing Black Bear And Her Cubs

ANCHORAGE, AK — An Alaska father and son have been charged after authorities say they killed a black bear and her two shrieking newborn cubs that were part of a study being conducted by state and federal forest officials.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers say Andrew Renner, 41, and Owen Renner, 18, of Wasilla, Alaska, have been charged with a felony and misdemeanors in relation to the poaching incident that took place in April. Troopers say the incident was caught on camera as the bears' den had been fitted with a motion activated audio and video camera.

The video shows the two men skiing up to the den and troopers say Owen Renner fired two shots at the denning mother bear. Troopers allege that Andrew Renner then killed the newborn bear cubs and discarded their bodies away from the den. According to The Associated Press, under state law, it's illegal to kill black bear cubs or sows with cubs in most of Alaska, including where the shooting occurred.

Court documents obtained by the AP show that the father and son realize the mother has a Fish and Game collar after dragging her from the den.

"Undeterred, Andrew Renner states, 'I'm gonna get rid of these guys' while tossing the cubs' limp carcasses onto the snow outside the den,'" the documents say.

In another video clip, the younger Renner says, 'We got the collar off," the court papers obtained by the AP say. "Andrew Renner says, 'We're gonna skin it that way,'" and points away from the den," the documents say. "Owen Renner agrees, saying, 'They'll never be able to link it to us.' They proceed to butcher the sow and place it in game bags, then ski away."

The two men returned to the den two days later to pick up the shells and to "dispose of the dead bear cubs," troopers said.

On April 30, troopers say Andrew Renner brought the mother black bear's skin and collar to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

"On April 30, A. Renner brought the sow black bear skin and the collar to ADF&G in Palmer and reported he killed the animal near Granite Bay in Prince William Sound on April 14," troopers said in a news release. "He further reported that while he realized after shooting it that the sow had teats, no cubs were present or located."

Authorities said the vessel and vehicle used to facilitate the hunt and hunting rifles were seized in the investigation.

The two men were charged with tampering with physical evidence, unlawfully taking a female bear with cubs, two counts of unlawfully taking bear cubs and three counts of possession/ transport of illegally taken game. Troopers also charged Andrew Renner with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and second degree unsworn falsification.

“Hunting laws and regulations exist to help ensure that the many species of Alaska wildlife will continue to exist for generations to come, and Wildlife Troopers take them very seriously,” Colonel Steve Hall of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers said in a statement. “Tools used in the commission of a crime are at times seized based upon the severity of the crime. In this case, numerous crimes, including felonies, are believed to have been committed; the truck and boat used to transport the suspects to and from the crime scene were seized.”

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