Investigators still looking for leads in black bear deaths in Talent

Crews climbed more than 40 feet to remove a dead bear. ODFW photo
December 18, 2022

Two bears illegally shot with bullets and arrows and left in trees

By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news

The death of black bears whose bodies were found in trees in Talent earlier this year remains under investigation by Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The bodies were found by Jackson County firefighters on Oct. 29 after receiving a report of a black bear with an arrow its chest. The bear was seen in a tree off Anderson Creek Road near Talent. On arriving at the scene about 3 p.m., responders called Jackson County Fire District 5 to assist in removing a 275-pound female bear from the tree.

A ladder truck was used to remove a bear. ODFW photo

Fire crews used a ladder truck to reach the bear, which was 40 to 50 feet up in a pine tree. After determining the bear was dead, firefighters spent about five minutes dislodging the carcass by using a roof hook and shaking the tree.

Investigators from the OSP and ODFW Wildlife determined that poachers had shot the bear multiple times with both a firearm and a bow and arrow, then left it to die. The decomposed carcass of another bear was found in a nearby tree by investigators. Troopers did not remove the second bear because it was badly decomposed and had been scavenged.

Investigators found two bullets lodged in the female bear, along with an arrow protruding from her chest. OSP Sergeant Jim Collom said the discoveries shocked firefighters even though they have helped remove both live animals and carcasses from ponds, mud pits and other difficult-to-reach places.

Dave Meads, a captain with Jackson County Fire District No. 5, who was part of the bear removal team, also expressed shock at the discovery. “In my career I have not seen anything like this,” he said. “When we were called out, it wasn’t clear it was poaching. I’m an avid outdoorsman, and it’s important that people follow the rules ODFW sets to keep the opportunities. When certain people choose not to follow those rules, it affects everyone.”

Senior Trooper Josh Neville with a dead female bear found with arrow in its chest and multiple gunshot wounds. ODFW photo

Derek Broman, ODFW carnivore coordinator, said his agency invests time and resources into bear conservation and management because, “People in Oregon care about bears. Waste of an animal means a lot to Oregonians. This is unacceptable criminal activity that wastes people’s resources, time and energy.”

Broman termed Oregon’s bear population as robust with an estimated 34,000 bears across the state. Regarding the death of the two bears in Talent, he surmised, “This is probably not a case of people simply having problems with bears, but a case of senseless killing. For someone to do something like this, it’s insulting to all the hard work put into researching and managing bears in Oregon.”

Anyone with information on the bear deaths is asked to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 800-452-7888, or email at [email protected]. Reference case number SP22291483.

Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at [email protected].

Stop Poaching Campaign

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife sponsors a Stop Poaching Campaign that educates people on how to recognize and report poaching. The campaign is a collaboration among state agencies, sportsmen and other conservationists, landowners, and recreationists to engage the public in combating Oregon’s poaching problem.

According to coordinator Yvonne Shaw, “Our goal is to: Incentivize reporting on wildlife crimes through the TIP Line; Strengthen enforcement by increasing the number of OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers; and Support prosecution in becoming an effective deterrent. The campaign helps to protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitat for the enjoyment of present and future generations.”

For more information, contact Shaw at [email protected].

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

School staff to get notices about potential layoffs next school year

The Ashland School Board on Thursday night turned recent snow days into furlough days and took the first step to initiate potential layoffs in the 2025-26 school year. A letter, which the board unanimously approved, will start a 30-day period for the district and the Ashland Education Association to discuss a potential reduction in force, or RIF, to deal with ongoing budget shortfalls.

Read More »

Providence Medford says nearly half of striking nurses have returned to work

Providence Medford Medical Center said Friday that 43 percent of its striking nurses have come back to work amid an historic statewide strike. The nurses union, however, calls the number “unsubstantiated.” About 380 nurses at Providence Medford went on strike Jan. 10 along with nurses at eight other hospitals around the state. In total, nearly 5,000 Oregon Nurses Association-represented nurses remain on strike.

Read More »

Two more Oregon cats die from bird flu virus in raw food

Two more Oregon cats died this month after eating raw cat food that was contaminated with the deadly bird flu virus, prompting Washington state officials to issue a recall. Pet owners should toss or return any containers of Wild Coast’s boneless free range chicken formula, lots 22660 and 22664, with a best by date of December 2025. 

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Klamath Bird Observatory Experience the wonders of Souteast Brazil Ashland Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon

Latest posts

School staff to get notices about potential layoffs next school year

The Ashland School Board on Thursday night turned recent snow days into furlough days and took the first step to initiate potential layoffs in the 2025-26 school year. A letter, which the board unanimously approved, will start a 30-day period for the district and the Ashland Education Association to discuss a potential reduction in force, or RIF, to deal with ongoing budget shortfalls.

Read More >

Providence Medford says nearly half of striking nurses have returned to work

Providence Medford Medical Center said Friday that 43 percent of its striking nurses have come back to work amid an historic statewide strike. The nurses union, however, calls the number “unsubstantiated.” About 380 nurses at Providence Medford went on strike Jan. 10 along with nurses at eight other hospitals around the state. In total, nearly 5,000 Oregon Nurses Association-represented nurses remain on strike.

Read More >

Two more Oregon cats die from bird flu virus in raw food

Two more Oregon cats died this month after eating raw cat food that was contaminated with the deadly bird flu virus, prompting Washington state officials to issue a recall. Pet owners should toss or return any containers of Wild Coast’s boneless free range chicken formula, lots 22660 and 22664, with a best by date of December 2025. 

Read More >

Crossword: Peak Performances

This week’s crossword: roles, runs and readings at a nearby mountain. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week’s crossword: “Camelot 2025 #02.” More crosswords under the Culture menu.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Ashland Parks and Recreation Ashland Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

The Ashland School Board on Thursday night turned recent snow days into furlough days and took the first step to initiate potential layoffs in the 2025-26 school year. A letter, which the board unanimously approved, will start a 30-day period for the district and the Ashland Education Association to discuss a potential reduction in force, or RIF, to deal with ongoing budget shortfalls.
Oregon medical researchers and three Democratic members of Oregon’s congressional delegation warned that the Trump administration’s efforts to curtail funding will hamper the ability of the state’s science community to do groundbreaking research that can save lives and advance health care.
Providence Medford Medical Center said Friday that 43 percent of its striking nurses have come back to work amid an historic statewide strike. The nurses union, however, calls the number "unsubstantiated." About 380 nurses at Providence Medford went on strike Jan. 10 along with nurses at eight other hospitals around the state. In total, nearly 5,000 Oregon Nurses Association-represented nurses remain on strike.
Carrie Dahle: Here in Ashland, the real estate market remains strong, but affordability remains a central challenge.... While we haven't seen a dramatic shift toward smaller homes yet, buyers are increasingly prioritizing homes that offer efficient layouts, updated features and lower maintenance costs.
This week's crossword: roles, runs and readings at a nearby mountain. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week's crossword: "Camelot 2025 #02." More crosswords under the Culture menu.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.