Oregon Public Broadcasting

Photographs and videos helped investigators in Deschutes County track down five men accused of illegally taking wildlife. Additional charges are pending in Idaho. KLCC’s Angela Kellner reports.

Oregon State Police Senior Trooper James Hayes found a camera in the woods near a bear bait site in Central Oregon.

The camera had a photo of Aaron Loosli of La Pine, who allegedly set the bear trap.

Trooper Hayes says a search warrant of the suspect’s home turned up videos dating back several years.

James Hayes: “It’s not unusual for poachers to you know record videos and stuff of their illegal activities. They like to keep them so they can watch them over and over again. That’s what these suspects were doing.”

The other men facing charges are: Bend residents Daniel Parker and Eric Rockenbach; as well as Christopher Heyrend and Jason Estes, both of Idaho.

Charges include the unlawful taking of bear, dear, moose, and cougar. Several of the crimes are felonies.