Can I Sell A Bear Skin Rug Made in Another State?

March 24, 2011

Question:I legally shot a black bear last year in California and then took it to a taxidermist in Nevada who was to create a bear skin rug for me. Somehow the taxidermist mistakenly gave my bear away to another customer and so then gave me a different bear rug to replace it. This wasn’t a good solution for me though because I don’t want this bear skin from an animal I didn’t take. Can I legally sell it since it was taken in another state? (Anonymous)

Answer: No. Any and all sales of bears and bear parts (even your bear skin rug) are prohibited in California (Fish and Game Code, section 4758). According to DFG Bear Program Manager Marc Kenyon, bears can be tanned, preserved or utilized strictly for personal use. The prohibition against the sale of bears and bear parts extends beyond our local California black bears to include all species of bears, regardless of whether they were taken in California or imported into the state. This is one of the few Fish and Game violations that are prosecuted as felonies.