PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A woman from Washington has been sentenced following an investigation into illegal trafficking of black bear parts, authorities announced Monday.

Officials said 54-year-old Skagit County resident Yan Li was sentenced August 25 to 45 days of confinement along with a $1,800 fine after pleading guilty to a Class C felony of unlawful wildlife trafficking.

The case goes back to 2020, when the Skagit County Health Department alerted officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife of possible restaurant code violations after several dead waterfowl were found outside of Li’s restaurant, officials said.

WDFW confirmed that Li’s restaurant was not selling the birds and cited Li for possession of wildlife without a statement and required a court fine in December 2020.

However, in late 2021, similar complaints continued to pour into the Skagit County Health Department, leading WDFW police to start an investigation.

Undercover WDFW officers learned that Li illegally bought whole waterfowl and black bear parts – including 13 gall bladders, six livers and 24 paws with claws still attached.

According to WDFW, black market prices for bear gall bladders and other parts can go for $100-$200 locally, or for thousands of dollars overseas.

“The perceived medicinal value creates an increased demand for the species and their body parts, which threaten the long-term survivability of a population by overharvesting,” said Brad Rhoden, WDFW Police Captain.  “Beyond being illegal, it’s highly concerning to unethically waste black bears, or any wildlife for that matter, for nothing more than a few body parts being sold on the black market.” 

“Buying and selling of bear gall bladder and certain other bear parts is unlawful in Washington state,” added Scott Halloran from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, who prosecuted the case on behalf of WDFW Police. “There was no doubt a conviction would be given due to the excellent investigation performed by WDFW on this case.”