RFK Jr. could have been fined for dumping dead bear in Central Park

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, could have faced a fine for dumping a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park. However, the statute of limitations for the offense had expired. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation led an investigation in 2014 that determined the cub had died from blunt-force trauma consistent with a collision. Kennedy admitted in a video that he was responsible for leaving the cub in the park after originally planning to skin and eat it. The investigation was closed due to a lack of evidence to determine if violations occurred.
The state law prohibits the illegal disposal of a bear, which could have resulted in a fine of up to $250 for the first offense. Kennedy would not have faced criminal charges, but could have received a civil fine of up to $1,000 from city authorities. His campaign did not comment on the incident. The Department of Sanitation used the news as a teaching moment on social media on how to properly dispose of a dead animal in New York City. The DEC provided information on how to legally possess a deer, moose, or bear that was killed in a collision. Kennedy’s actions were considered a minor violation similar to a traffic offense.

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