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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 19, 2006 Wildlife director warned for freeing black bear By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune A Merlin animal rehabilitator was formally warned, but not cited, on Monday for illegally releasing a sick black bear into the wild after it was found and tranquilized in downtown Grants Pass. An Oregon State Police investigation determined that David Siddon, executive director of Wildlife Images, violated his state permit when he released the revived bear on Dec. 2 near Galice without Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife approval. The ODFW has a policy against releasing bears habituated to humans. Agency leaders also issued a warning to hunters against consuming meat from any bear shot in the Galice area this month because residual chemicals from the tranquilizers could sicken humans. Siddon said he released the bear because he had no room to hold it at Wildlife Images on that Saturday and no one was available at the ODFW office on weekends. Also, he said, he did not want to kill it. OSP Lt. Jeff Williams officially issued Siddon a warning and an explanation of the permit requirements Monday afternoon, closing the OSP case. Advertisement "Our role is to gain voluntary compliance," Williams said. "In this particular case, we feel quite strongly that a warning for violating the terms of his permit will definitely take care of this situation." Siddon said Monday that he did not intentionally violate his permit when he released the bear off Bear Camp Road west of Galice. Siddon said he was simply trying to help the OSP safely remove a sick bear found in a downtown Grants Pass alley without having to kill it. While ODFW policy is to kill human-habituated bears, that's contrary to the philosophy at Wildlife Images, Siddon said. "That's not what the public wants us to be doing," Siddon said. "You're damned if you do, damned if you don't. There's no scenario in this case that would have worked for us." Having to kill a captured bear to avoid facing a citation creates "very little incentive" for Wildlife Images to help the OSP capture a bear that ODFW biologists would later kill, Siddon said. "If that's how they want to handle those cases, we can leave it to them," Siddon said. Typically, a tranquilized big-game animal that is released would be fitted with ear tags warning anyone who kills it to check with a local ODFW office before eating any of it. That's because tranquilizer drugs can leave residues in animal tissues for up to seven weeks. "That's why we don't dart deer or elk during hunting seasons," ODFW veterinarian Colin Gillin said. Though human health problems from tranquilized animals are rare, symptoms could include dizziness or nausea. However, Gillin said, one fear is that someone who eats tainted meat could have a dangerous allergic reaction. "What we always look at is public safety," Gillin said. "(Siddon) can't make those calls for the public. There's liability issues there." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com