In a shocking and deeply disturbing case of wildlife crime, reports have emerged of a female black bear and her young cub being shot in a residential neighborhood in Humboldt County, California.
The incident took place on the evening of Saturday, August 30, 2025, near Ridgewood Drive and Eggert Road in Eureka. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots around 8:00 p.m., alarmingly close to nearby homes. According to preliminary accounts, the mother bear was struck with what is believed to have been a .30-06 caliber rifle, while her cub was shot with a .22 caliber firearm.
Community members quickly alerted local law enforcement and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). A wildlife officer was dispatched to interview neighbors and begin an investigation. However, by the time CDFW returned on September 2, 2025, to recover the bears’ bodies, witnesses said the remains had already been removed by individuals driving a red pickup truck. The identity of these individuals, along with the current location of the bears’ remains, is still unknown.
Mike Veale, founder of Global Conservation Force, confirmed to WAN that his organization is working to assist with information sharing and outreach in hopes of supporting authorities and the community in uncovering the truth about this tragic event.
“Poaching isn’t just something that happens in far-off countries, it’s a real and persistent problem here in the United States, including right in my former backyard in California,” Veale told WAN. “Bear poaching, for example, can be driven by ego, so-called ‘sport,’ and even demand from the Southeast Asian traditional medicine market, the same market that fuels rhino horn trafficking. Illegal deer hunting, trophy kills, and black-market trafficking of abalone, lobster, and other seafood are well-known issues to wildlife officers, yet many people don’t realize how organized and close to home these crimes are.
“Even in California, wildlife officers often don’t have the same tools, support, or budgets that city and county law enforcement receive, making it even more challenging to catch poachers and combat these crimes,” continued Veale. “The recent shooting of a black bear and her cub in Humboldt County is a stark reminder that wildlife crime is not rare or distant, it’s happening in our neighborhoods. We must start treating it with the seriousness it deserves.”
In Humboldt County, most hunting law violations are classified as misdemeanors, punishable by fines and potential jail time.
Officials and conservationists are urging the public to come forward with any information that could aid the investigation, including:
• Sightings of individuals or vehicles in the area on the night of August 30, 2025
• Details on the red pickup truck seen transporting the carcasses (including license plate numbers or driver identity)
• Any photos, videos, or recordings from that evening
• Information on the whereabouts of the bear remains
If you have relevant information, please contact:
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife CALTIP Line: (888) 334-2258
• Global Conservation Force: [email protected] (anonymous tips welcome)
Global Conservation Force has pledged to continue supporting local authorities and the community until justice is served for the mother bear and her cub.
