Washington’s first Karelian Bear Dogs, credited with busting poachers and saving kittens, die

Cash and Mishka were the first Karelian Bear Dogs to work for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Over the course of their respective careers, they assisted in hundreds of wildlife conflict calls. The two canines helped bust poachers, find and save orphaned cougar kittens and proved that a couple lied about being attacked by a cougar.

Mishka first started at the agency in 2003, as a puppy. He worked alongside (WWU Huxley alumnus) Rocky Spencer, a wildlife biologist specializing in large carnivores, particularly cougars.