Responding to reports on social media and anonymous tips of an alleged poaching incident, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers discovered three bears — a sow and two cubs — had been killed and dumped on state trust land southeast of Salida.

The CPW investigation led wildlife officers to obtain a search warrant for a home near Howard. Officers found evidence the bears had been shot there early on Monday, September 25. After executing the search and arrest warrants, Paul Stromberg, 52, was taken into custody on multiple charges. Included in those were a felony count of illegal destruction of wildlife and several misdemeanors, including unlawful killing of wildlife without a license, unlawful possession and waste of game meat.

Stromberg was taken to Fremont County Jail. He was later released on a $10,000 bond pending formal charges. When investigators found the sow and cubs, they also found a pair of red-black Milwaukee brand gloves nearby with dried blood on them. According to KDVR-TV, “Investigators were contacted by a person who wished to remain anonymous but shared a picture of Stromberg posing with three dead bears that matched the description of the bears found dead in Sand Gulch. In the picture, Stromberg is wearing red and black Milwaukee-brand gloves that closely resemble the gloves found near the carcasses.”

The tipster reportedly told CWP officers Stromberg was upset because bears killed his chickens and “in return, he took out her whole (expletive) family.” Stromberg did not have a bear hunting license.