Behind the Badge - The Bear
The Bear
District Game Warden Shawn Sperling
Usually by mid-July in North Dakota, most people are in full swing with walleye fishing, cabin retreats, beach days, or some other form of summer recreation. As game wardens, our summertime focus is largely directed toward activity on the water – watercraft patrols, fishery enforcement, and general recreation safety. We try to plan our days around where we anticipate the heaviest use and where patrols will be needed most, though that is not always an easy task. It never fails that just as a plan is set, a single phone call can completely change the direction of the day.
One such day that stands out to me occurred on July 15, 2023. I began my patrol intending to focus on a couple of area lakes well known for their fishing and recreational opportunities. About halfway to my destination, I received a phone call from a neighboring warden. The moment I answered, I could tell by his cheerful tone that he was about to pawn a call off on me. I reluctantly asked, “What?” His response was simple: “You have a bear.”
Considering North Dakota is not known for a robust black bear population, I fully expected him to be joking. He wasn’t. He quickly relayed the information he had and got off the phone. I immediately contacted the reporting party to gather more details. He identified himself as a railway employee in the Minot area and explained that while checking rail lines, he observed a black bear hanging in a tree. He also believed the bear may have been poached. When I asked why he thought it was poached, his response was straightforward: “It’s not moving.” I asked for an approximate location and whether he had taken any photos. Within moments, I received several pictures, and even from a distance, it was clearly identifiable as a black bear.
Given the unusual nature of the situation, I drove out to investigate. My mind immediately shifted into logistics mode, identifying potential obstacles and formulating a plan to address each one.
The bear was approximately 17 feet up in a small ash tree that hung over the Souris River. If I cut the tree down, I would get wet retrieving the bear from the river. If I climbed the tree, I would need a ladder and enough strength to lift the bear free from the branches where it appeared to be stuck. Additionally, if the bear had been poached during the heat of the day, I would need to locate a freezer large enough to store a full-sized adult black bear.
More phone calls followed. I contacted a neighboring warden who had access to a suitable locking evidence freezer. I also called our Game and Fish Department veterinarian to see if he would be able to perform a full necropsy. There were a lot of moving parts before I ever laid eyes on the bear.
I decided to stop at home for supplies. I gathered approximately 20 screw-in tree climbers to access the tree, a large section of rope to secure the bear and keep it from falling into the river, a limb saw in case branches needed to be removed, and my ATV ramp to assist in the task of winching the bear into the bed of my patrol vehicle.
With a plan in place, I headed out and made the 35-minute drive to the location. About a mile out, my final turn led me down a narrow two-track road through a field (disclaimer: no crops were harmed). As I approached the railway, I could see the dark object hanging in the tree. After crossing the tracks, I began to get a growing suspicion that something about this bear wasn’t quite right.
The first thing I noticed was the body posture, which didn’t look appropriate for a dead animal. I parked just east of the tree and walked closer. I looked up at the bear, then down at the ground where I noticed a ladder, and then back up again. At that moment, I started laughing.
The “infamous” poached bear was actually a full-body taxidermy black bear mount, ratchet-strapped to the tree.
Like any reasonable person, I grabbed the ladder, climbed up, and gave the bear a firm knock with my knuckles. The hollow sound confirmed it was a foam-body mount. I checked the ratchet strap, muttered, “That’s not going anywhere,” and climbed back down.
Because the initial report involved possible poaching, I had yet to contact the landowner. However, I had noticed a trail camera while driving in, and now that poaching was clearly not the case, I decided to notify them out of courtesy. I located what I believed to be the residence and drove a few miles down the road.
As I pulled into the driveway, I was greeted by a pack of friendly hound dogs. No sooner had I exited my vehicle than I was met by two adults – one male and one female. After a brief pause, the male said, “This is about the bear, isn’t it?” Before I could answer, the female started laughing.
I confirmed that it was and asked why they had placed a full-body mounted black bear in a tree. The male explained that they use the mounts as training tools for their dogs, which are trained to tree bears and mountain lions in other states. Amused by the situation, the female added, “There’s also a full-body mountain lion in the woods if you get another call or want to check it out.” We all laughed.
After a brief conversation about their dog training methods, I headed on my way. Everyone involved seemed to appreciate the humor of the situation, except the reporting party. I later called him to explain what I had found. His first response was an apology. I assured him there was absolutely no reason to apologize. I thanked him for making the call and explained that reports like his are important because you never know when something truly is a real issue. I also contacted the others who had been involved, all of whom found the situation just as amusing.
In the end, I came away with a few funny photographs, a good memory, an enjoyable story and another reminder that no matter how carefully you plan a day, you never quite know what it will bring.