State Settles With Bear Parts Dealers

New Jersey authorities reached settlements in New Brunswick with 19 people who had been charged in a statewide crackdown on the illegal sale of black bear parts, white-tailed deer meat and striped bass. One defendant was accused of selling deer fetuses, bear gall bladders and paws and antlers for use in folk medicine, while others were accused of selling bear, bass and deer to restaurants. Altogether, the yearlong investigation by the state’s Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife resulted in the arrest last month of owners of 21 restaurants, several fishermen and a hunter selling bass and deer.