North Dakota warden recalls strange bear investigation that ends with a laugh

The beginning of my career as a game warden provided many stories. Good. Bad. Funny. And sometimes sad.

Among the lessons learned was “never say never.” And I’m guessing from his story for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Behind the Badge, Shawn Sperling, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden, can relate.

Here’s his story:

By mid-July in North Dakota, most people are immersed in summer recreation – walleye fishing, cabin weekends, beach days, and time on the water. For game wardens, summer patrols focus on watercraft activity, fishery enforcement, and general recreation safety. We do our best to anticipate where patrols will be needed most, but plans can change instantly with a single phone call.

One such day stands out: July 15, 2023. I began my patrol intending to check a couple of popular area lakes. About halfway there, I received a call from a neighboring warden. His cheerful tone immediately told me he was about to pass something off.

I sighed and asked, “What?” His response was simple: “You have a bear.”

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Given that North Dakota isn’t known for a strong black bear population, I assumed he was joking. He wasn’t. He quickly relayed the information and hung up.

I contacted the reporting party, a railway employee in the Minot area, who explained that while checking rail lines he observed a black bear hanging in a tree. He believed it may have been poached. When I asked why, he replied plainly, “It’s not moving.”

He provided a location and soon sent photos that clearly showed what appeared to be a black bear in a tree.

Because of the unusual nature of the call, I headed out to investigate. As I drove, my mind shifted into logistics mode. The bear was reportedly about 17 feet up in an ash tree overhanging the Souris River. Cutting the tree would drop the bear into the river. Climbing the tree would require a ladder and enough strength to free the bear from the branches. If it truly was a poached bear in July heat, I would also need freezer space large enough to store a big animal.

Several more calls followed. I contacted a neighboring warden with access to a secure evidence freezer and reached out to our department veterinarian about a possible necropsy. Before I ever saw the bear, there were already multiple moving parts.

I stopped home to gather supplies: screw-in tree climbers, rope to secure the bear and keep it from falling into the river, a limb saw, and an ATV ramp to help winch the bear into my patrol vehicle.

With a plan in place, I made the 35-minute drive to the site. My final turn took me down a narrow two-track through a field. As I approached the railway, I could see the dark object hanging in the tree, and almost immediately something felt off.

The body posture didn’t look right for a dead animal. I parked and walked closer, looked up at the bear and then down at the ground where I noticed a ladder. I looked back up again and started laughing.

The “poached” bear was actually a full-body taxidermy black bear mount, ratchet-strapped to the tree.

Naturally, I grabbed the ladder, climbed up, and knocked on the bear with my knuckles. The hollow sound confirmed it was a foam-body mount. I checked the strap, muttered, “That’s not going anywhere,” and climbed back down.

Because the initial report involved possible poaching, I hadn’t yet contacted the landowner. After spotting a nearby trail camera, I decided to stop and explain what I found.

I drove to a nearby residence and was greeted by a pack of friendly hound dogs. Two adults met me in the driveway. After a brief pause, the man said, “This is about the bear, isn’t it?” Before I could answer, the woman started laughing.

They explained the mount was used to train their dogs, which are conditioned to tree bears and mountain lions in other states. The woman added, “There’s also a full-body mountain lion in the woods if you get another call.” We all shared a laugh.

Later, I called the reporting party to explain the situation. He immediately apologized, but I assured him there was no reason to. Calls like his are important, because sometimes they lead to real issues.

I ended the day with a few funny photos, a good story, and a reminder that no matter how carefully you plan, you never really know what the day will bring.