The Jackson County District Attorney's office will not pursue the prosecution of a local volunteer fire chief who was cited by Oregon State Police after picking up a black bear yearling east of Ashland earlier this month.
According to the DA's office, Oregon State Police troopers were dispatched to an area along Highway 66 near Ashland around 9 a.m. on April 7 for reports of a bear cub spotted in the area. Though a trooper did respond, they were unable to find the bear.
Around 11 a.m. that morning, Greensprings volunteer fire chief Gene Davies reported to dispatch that he had the bear cub. The trooper got in contact with Davies, who explained that he had heard about the bear appearing in the same area for three days. Davies told the trooper that he had lured the bear up a logging road, where it "laid down and took a nap," the DA's office said.
Davies was able to attach a leash to the bear, load it into a dog crate, and put it in his vehicle. He then took it back to his home.