Michael Watkins
Booking #: 60758
Age: 32
Gender: M
Race: W
Address: WETUMPKA, AL
Arresting Agency: ELMORE CO SO – AL0290000
Booking Date: 09-21-2023 – 12:25 pm
Charges:
Conservation-Animals
hunting after dark
HUNTING DURING CLOSED SEASON
Bond: $7000
BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
It is illegal to kill a Black Bear in Alabama, and Michael “Cole” Watkins, of Wetumpka, found that out today, as he has been booked into the Elmore County Jail on a $7,000 bond. The arrest was made by Elmore County Deputies, who also turned the bear’s remains over to Wildlife authorities.
Alabama Wildlife and Fisheries is in charge of the investigation, but declined further comment when we contacted them today.
The bear was reportedly shot near the 2000 block of Trace Road in Wallsboro.
On Wednesday the EAN shared a video taken by a local resident of a Black Bear on the side of the road near Wallsboro. We cannot say this is the same bear in the video as the one that was killed, but bears in Alabama are rarely seen. Recent estimates say there are only a couple of hundred known bears that are in the state. Today, there is one less.
Here is the Alabama Code regarding the killing or injury to the Black Bear.
Code of Alabama. Title 9. Conservation and Natural Resources. Chapter 11. Fish, Game, and Wildlife. Article 18. Protection of Black Bears.
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Primary Citation: Ala. Code 1975 § 9-11-480 – 481
Country of Origin: United States
Last Checked: August, 2023
Summary: These Alabama statutes were signed into law in 2001. The laws declare that black bears are a species that require special protection in the state and make it illegal to hunt, wound, injure, kill, trap, collect, or capture a black bear, or to attempt to engage in that conduct during the closed season for black bear. It also makes it illegal to sell or purchase bear parts.
§ 9-11-480 Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds that the black bear (Ursus americanus) is a unique mammal in the State of Alabama requiring special protection.
Credits:
(Act 2001-634, p. 1223, § 1.)
§ 9-11-481 Prohibited activities; exceptions; applicability; penalties.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other entity to do any of the following:
(1) Hunt, wound, injure, kill, trap, collect, or capture a black bear, or to attempt to engage in that conduct during the closed season for black bear.
(2) Sell, offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase, deliver, transport, carry, or ship, in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce a black bear, whether alive or dead, or any of its parts or products, or to attempt to engage in that conduct. Nothing in this article shall prohibit legal possession of black bear taken legally in other states.
(b) The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall permit, under reasonable terms and conditions as it may prescribe, any act otherwise prohibited by subsection (a) for any of the following purposes:
(1) Scientific or survival research.
(2) Zoological exhibition.
(3) Education.
(4) Any other purposes as may be determined by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
(c) The prohibitions of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) shall not apply to activities where killing or injuring a black bear is incidental to, and not the purpose of, activities which are otherwise lawful.
(d) Any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other entity who violates this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, punishable as follows:
(1) For the first offense, by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
(2) For the second and any subsequent offense, by a fine of not less than three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment for not less than six months or more than one year, or both.
(3) Any individual shall have all hunting and fishing license privileges revoked for a period of three years from the date of conviction.
(4) Any motor vehicle, weapons, or other property, which has been or is used in any activity prohibited by this section may be confiscated under the same procedures set forth in Section 9-11-252.1.
Credits
(Act 2001-634, p. 1223, § 2.)
