Success: Killers of Black Bear Family Sentenced to Jail Time

Target: Kevin Clarkson, Attorney General of Alaska

Goal: Support strong punishments for the poaching of protected wildlife.

A family of protected Alaskan black bears faced merciless slaughter at the hands of a father-and-son family of poachers. Forty-one-year-old Andrew Renner and his then 17-year-old son Owen traveled to a snow-covered den housing a sow and her two cubs. After one man shot the mother bear twice, the other killed her shrieking cubs. The men, not realizing their cruel actions had been caught on camera, later lied to officials about the cubs’ presence in the den. They also claimed ignorance that killing the animals was illegal, even though the mother wore a collar indicating her status. Now, in the wake of forceful calls for action, like those found in this ForceChange petition, justice has been delivered.

Both defendants faced charges of killing the bears, unlawfully possessing them, and falsifying information. The Alaska attorney general’s office successfully secured convictions on a total of 12 counts. Each man was sentenced to some jail time, fines ($20,000 for the elder Renner), and years-long suspensions of their hunting licenses. The father also surrendered several possessions, including a boat, a truck, and weapons that were likely used to slaughter the family of bears.

Most importantly, this sentence sends a strong message to would-be poachers. The assistant attorney general said, “The defendant, and anyone else that would pursue game in our state, should be on notice that killing a sow with cubs and then poaching the cubs to cover it up, will result in a significant jail term and loss of hunting privileges…large fines and restitution.” He concluded with an affirmative, “Alaska does not tolerate poaching.”

Sign the petition below to commend a ruling that helped assure justice for a slaughtered family while setting an important precedent of condemnation for those who butcher wildlife.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Attorney General Peterson,

Poachers Andrew and Owen Renner committed a serious crime and then engaged in a prolonged cover-up. When they realized they had likely slaughtered protected animals, the elder man was captured on camera simply stating, “I’m gonna get rid of these guys.” These men not only took the lives of a mother bear and her shrieking cubs, they also coldly tossed away the tiny carcasses like trash and butchered the mother for meat. They then attempted to lie and mislead about these heinous actions.

Thank you for pursuing the full spectrum of charges in this despicable act your office deemed as “the most egregious bear cub poaching case” in recent memory. Your commitment yielded significant fines, some jail time, suspension of licenses, and the surrender of the tools that enabled this crime. On a more fundamental level, your dedication demonstrated that you understand the gravity of these atrocities committed against protected wildlife.

Please continue to be a defender and champion for all living beings that cannot stand for themselves.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Laurel Ridge State Park


17 Comments

  1. these jerks MUST GET MORE THAN JAIL TIME…THEY NEED HEFTY FINES & HUNTING PRIVILEGES TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM FOREVER!!!! THEY ALSO MUST DO A YEAR’S WORTH OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH OUT PAY!

  2. It’s something, but not enough! You have to make it so severe that no one would ever even think of this horrific act, let alone do it! The killers are mad and will most likely retaliate! They will not stop!

  3. Kill these shitheads in prison to stop global warming by eliminating their carbon footprint.

  4. Demetrios E Lekkas PhD says:

    I don’t know what I hate more: the cruel coldblooded murder of the innocent, or the subsequent despicable cowardly lying? What’s for sure is that each of of these makes the other much worse.

  5. Jacqui Skill says:

    Keep them in prison for life.. they are dehumanized monsters

  6. What does “some jail time” mean?
    To me, it means nothing.

  7. Catherine emerson says:

    It’s a start but not good enough, don’t call them “men” they’re anything but, they’re nothing but pencil dicks. They should have lost they’re hunting license for life and also a longer jail sentence and put in amongst animal lovers who would make their lives hell every day. Wonder what the wife and mother thinks of her ‘Men’ in saying that she must be just as bad to condone them hunting for bears in the first place. Their cunning, lying murdering scumbags.

  8. how many times have those two sub-human monsters did this evil act before getting caught. They’re must be a woman out there who’s so proud of her husband and son.

  9. Rob Erickson says:

    Revoke their hunting license for life.

  10. Those sick bastards just need to be shot and cleared off the planet.

  11. On May 2018 we se to to Alaska to see bears, we were Argentine, we had make thousands on miles , but for our sorpresa when we arrived to Junau and take a excursion to see whales ( they are so carefully, been which the boats very away of it ) the nature to us is very important they says to us , but I saw on the road “ something and sorry if I don’t write my English well, that you can hunt”
    Horrific thing, I asked the guide and he answered yes we can hunt bears, Foxs and other animals, “ but you care so much about the whales and the life in where they coming not allowed to see they close and you can hunt bears??? I couldn’t understand.
    To see bear in Alaska you have to take a plaine a long trip . We don’t saw bears in Alaska year by year the bears are killed just to put theirs head in the dinning room in a hotel or in theirs homes, bears are frightening to humans. We had to go to Victoria island and make with a rent car hunters of miles to arrived and take a excursion in a boat that made another long trip past to a little boat and in silence without any kind of perfume to at last we saw frighten lonely bears, only a few where no human been attack’s them .A very sad history and view .We came with the idea than were in our country , 3 world, we take care more than in the power USA world country.

  12. these 2 assholes should hang

    • Braxton Worth. I fully agree that these to animal murdering assholes should hang. I would love to get to them and they would know what it is like being tortured to death.
      These two monsters definitely deserve the death penalty.

  13. these jerks must stay in jail forever! these jerks must pay hefty fines that go to wildlife protection!

  14. At least there was some justice this time.

  15. Yolanda Bernhard says:

    you are the last piece of shit
    These are all mass murderers
    the officials who do nothing – too
    you are devilish – you should tear out your arms and legs as well
    Pooh – Pooh

  16. This is not a punishment by any means. Justice was not served. They use tax money to parade around to act like they are enforcing the law. These state heads and politicians couldn’t care less about enforcing laws to protect wildlife, environment or people for that matter. They are useless. “Some jail time”, a fine and years long license suspension is a joke. Maybe if you put their asses in jail for decades, take everything they own and suspend every right they have, then you could start calling it punishment and justice. These psycho bastards enjoy these sick acts. This is merely a slap on the wrist and does not deter psychos like this from doing it again.

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