Mom, daughter lose appeal in bear trap tampering case
By Associated Press
A Reno woman and her mother have lost an appeal after becoming the first people prosecuted in Nevada for interfering with the capture of troublesome bears at Lake Tahoe.
Season Morrison and her mother, Cheryl Morrison, of Truckee, admitted they deliberately tripped a culvert bear trap state wildlife officials set in October 2013 in Incline Village but maintained the trap had been set illegally.
They were convicted last May of interfering with a wildlife officer and tampering with a motor vehicle.
Justice of the Peace E. Alan Tiras later ordered both to complete community service and pay $1,000 fines, and sentenced Season Morrison to 30 days in jail.
Washoe County District Judge Janet Berry on March 26 denied their appeals, saying Tiras’ decision was supported by evidence and free of error.
Their lawyer says it’s unlikely Berry’s ruling will be appealed.
Thats pretty heavy for trying to save a bear, Guess it was OK to shoot the bear instead,Were they drunk on a DUI?
Good intentions but not the best thing to do, they were not really “saving ” a bear.
I live in Christmas Valley and over the years there have been problem bears here.
the unfortunate scenario is that Momma bear learns how to break down a door or break a window and open the big white box that is sometimes stocked with food.
some of the problem bears were trapped and taken for a scenic ride 100 miles south, where they were released.Over time they made their way back to Tahoe and went back to their old ways.They then had families of 2 or 3 and instructed their Cubs how to reach the big white boxes full of food.
now the problem has multiplied and sadly the end result is not just 1 bear being lost, but 3 or 4.
that is the reality.I think better to lose 1 bear than 3 or 4 ???
Steve,
Don’t try to talk sense into fanatics. You’re spot on with your observation. We didn’t have a bear problem until we had a Bear League.
Sometimes the best of intentions backfire.
These people who interfere with wildlife management are the biggest threat to the bears.