Pendleton County Man Fined for Illegally Trapping Bear

Pendleton County Posted: 3:48 PM Apr 21, 2009 Last Updated: 3:48 PM Apr 21, 2009

Capt. Charles Schollar of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Section says a Pendleton County man has been convicted and fined for illegally trapping a black bear.

On October 21, DNR Conservation Officer Greg Chambers was contacted by a hunter who reported that he had witnessed a black bear caught in a culvert trap on Stoney Run in Pendleton County.

Chambers investigated and discovered a bear caught in a home-made culvert trap. After documenting the evidence, Chambers, DNR Wildlife Manager Mike Eye and State Trooper Andy Teter transported the bear to a remote location on the George Washington National Forest and released it.

During the course of the investigation, officials determined that 46-year-old Eugene Varner of Sugar Grove, West Virginia had built, baited and set the trap which had caught the bear in question.

On April 16, Varner pleaded no contest in Pendleton County Magistrate Court to the charge of taking bear by an illegal method.

He was fined $1,000 and court costs of $159. In addition, the culvert trap was forfeited to the state and Varner faces a two-year revocation of his hunting and fishing license.