SKAGIT COUNTY, Wash. — A western Washington woman has been sentenced to house arrest after pleading guilty to illegally trafficking black bear parts.
On August 25, 54-year-old Yan L. Li was sentenced to 45 days of house arrest and a $1,800 fine after a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife investigation found she had illegally bought whole waterfowl and black bear parts from undercover WDFW officers.
The investigation revealed Li had bought 13 black bear gall bladders, six livers and 24 paws with the claws still attached.
According to WDFW, black market prices for bear gall bladders and other black bear parts can range between $100 to $200 locally and sell for thousands of dollars overseas.
“The perceived medicinal value creates an increased demand for these species and their body parts, which threaten the long-term survivability of a population by overharvesting,” said Brad Rhoden, WDFW Police Captain. “Beyond being illegal, it’s highly concerning to unethically waste black bears, or any wildlife for that matter, for nothing more than a few body parts being sold on the black market.”
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