Two Midland men have been charged with trying to deal in black bear organs.
The men allegedly approached hunters offering to buy black bears and parts of bears.
It’s against the law to buy and sell certain wildlife organs. There’s concern that demand for animal organs for use in traditional medicines may lead to poachers killing bears and other animals out of their normal hunting seasons.
Jason Haines supervises special investigations within the Department of Natural Resources. He says this is not a crime they see a lot.
“In fact it’s probably not as prevalent as it was many years ago, with the regulations in place in not only in Michigan and across the country,” says Haines.
The defendants are facing 90 days in jail on each charge.
