May 27, 2010
Bear Hunter Busted For Baiting Trap With Doughnuts, Pastries Hunter Fined, Will Lose Hunting License
DENVER — A bear hunter is in trouble for the sweet treats he used to bait a bear.
Andre Ciaravola, 39, a plumber from Frederick, killed a bear in Boulder County in 2007. But after taking the bear in for inspection, as required by law, state Division of Wildlife officers grew suspicious, according to Ciaravola’s defense attorney.
During an investigation, authorities found some of the pastries and doughnuts on a trail, according to the Greeley Tribune. It was a move that trained the bears to come to that one spot, said Weld Deputy District Attorney Hollie Wilkinson.
The newspaper reported that Ciaravola was charged with 14 counts, including forging public documents, tampering with physical evidence, hunting without a big-game license and illegal possession of wildlife.
Coloradans voted to make baiting bears illegal in the 1990s, according to Tyler Baskfield, a spokesman for Division of Wildlife.
“We don’t tolerate that,” said Baskfield.
Under a plea bargain Thursday, Ciaravola was fined $700, sentenced to a year of probation and had his hunting license suspended, according to the paper.
Baskfield said the license suspension isn’t just for Colorado. He explained that 30 states are part of a compact that when a hunter is banned in one state, they are banned in all 30 states.
“He’s an avid, avid hunter,” defense attorney Todd Taylor said of Ciaravola to the newspaper.
“He’s passionate, and it’s something he’s devoted most of his free time to doing. He’s invested lots of time and energy. But as a result of this, he will lose his privilege to hunt in Colorado for five years, and that will be huge.”.