The bears gall bladder, Whats its use to us???

[Hunter Fishman]

I've been thumbing thru the questions from the public on the F&G website & nonsense of whats
"legal" & "Illegal" along with wrong answers writen by Carrie Wilson, a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. I cant trust what has been said on a few other topics answered by her due to the fact that I know from personal experiences that what she said is way off but thats another topic about the time of rut in San Diego. I was born & raised in san diego & the rut is NOT in sept/oct.!!!
The hunting season is durring this time & thats what she based her answer off of.

Anyway I came across this subject on the illegal removal of a gall bladder from a road kill bear.
This isnt a subject that I questioned other than, whats the use of the bears gall bladder to humans?

This question was asked.
Question:
It was in the news recently that a bear was hit by a car in the Lake Tahoe area. By the time authorities arrived they realized that someone else had already gotten to it first and removed the bear's gall bladder from the carcass. I cannot believe this would be legal to do. Is it?

Answer:
No. According to Game Warden Patrick Foy, possession of bear parts from a non-lawfully harvested bear in California is a misdemeanor crime and would subject a person to a potential citation. If that person takes the bears gall bladder and tries to sell it on the black market, even if the bear had not been hit by a car and was harvested legally, it elevates the crime to a felony with stiff penalties and possible jail terms.

What use is the gall bladder to us?
If legaly harvested, why wouldnt it be legal to sell any part of the bear if it is rightfuly yours?
I'm not speaking in mass quantities either. 1 item off 1 animal.

[bilmac]

There is never anything new under the sun. You think all this Viagra and all these other aphrodiasiacs they are selling now are new? No such thing, the orientals have been using horns and bear gall bladders for the same thing for thousands of years. Some animals have been seriously depleted by the demand for their parts for aphrodisiecs like the white rhino.

As to why you can't sell animal parts, those regulations are determined by each State, some States have no problems with whatever you want to do with legally harvested critters, others even want to regulate how long you can keep the meat in your freezer.

[Graybeard]

None is the honest answer but orientals primarily the Japanese I think believe it's powerful medicine same as they do antlers in velvet. That's where the illegal black market in bear gall bladders lies and is why it's illegal to attempt to sell them. If they allow legal sales it will mean the bear population will be wiped out in short order by poachers.

They take a huge toll anyway as the market is very profitable and the penalties not so bad in relation to the gain. It's kinda like selling illegal drugs. Ya get so rich doing it that folks are willing to risk the chance of being caught.

[S.E.Ak]

Like Greybeard said its a big poaching problem. Most every big city has an area where bear galls can be sold. Complete waste of a fine game animal

[theoldarcher]

Similar to shark fins, rhino horns, etc.  The old wives tales passed down through some cultures has caused, and in some cases is causing, severe pressure on certain wildlife populations.  Although now that some native population understand the financial benefit of sport hunting, some animals nearing endangerment has actually moved into huntable numbers.

Arch

[Redtail1949]

its very big money to those that do it and they get caught in the end.

[slim rem 7]

 well heck ,,id make me a water bag outa it mabe.. as to the other purpse mentioned.. when nature shuts dn the devils workshop .. just go on to the good things thats left in life..this from a man who raised five kids with a good wife..at least i hope,, i only produced five.. i was pretty active before i got married an stopped all that foolishness...ive always wondered about one girl,who said she was with child..i tried to get her to come to me an we d do the right thing..never heard from her again..ive always thought about the possibility that some middle aged person might come to my door an tell me her mom said i was her daddy.
 i didn t say i dreaded it ..so if you out there id like to meet you..if you exist..slim. tony marks..
   pm me if you there..no money to try for though.. but ill love you like a daddy should,,or try anyway if you will let me....yea ..its bothered me all through my life ,as i don t know if its true or not..never could get in touch with her again..she was from a colledge town up wisconsin way ..i think.dad was in the lumber buisiness..who knows..