Bear activist nabbed for tampering with trap ( New Jersey )

The New Jersey Herald ^ | July 18, 2007 | COLIN McEVOY

[george76]

A Lake Wanda bear activist was arrested early Tuesday morning for tampering with a bear trap by spreading human urine around it.

It was just the latest in a series of incidents in the Highland Lakes neighborhood — not only between residents and bears, but between residents and bear activists — in what has been dubbed the county's "ground zero" for bear activity.

Albert Kazemian, 50, was arrested at ten after midnight on Tuesday, after Department of Environmental Protection Fish and Wildlife officers observed trespassing on a residence and pouring a jug of human urine around the trap...

Darlene Yuhas, a DEP spokeswoman, said the officers ordered him to stop, prompting Kazemian to throw the jug and run back toward his house, which was next door. He was apprehended and arrested before he made it.

Jennifer Spadaccini, the owner of the Woodside Drive house, had previously observed and taken photos of Kazemian doing the same thing to that trap on July 17, one day after the DEP first set up the non-lethal trap.

"I have to say, I find it comical that he was that thoughtless enough to think he wouldn't get caught coming onto my property," ...

Kazemian has been charged with two counts — one for each incident — of obstruction of governmental function and for using a scent to prevent lawful taking of wildlife.

He has also been charged with one count each of obstruction of administration of law, resisting arrest and interference with a conservation officer.

Kazemian is a member of the Bear Education and Resource (BEAR) Group...

Janet Piszar, 53, of Millburn — who was recently replaced Lynda Smith as director of the BEAR Group — was one of three people who was arrested along with Kazemian for hunter interference in 2005.

[Clam Digger]

Good. He’ll never pay much of a fine, though.

[Resolute Conservative]

Stake him to the cage soaked in honey.

[B4Ranch]

ping