Cornell students skins bear carcass in shared dorm kitchen

David Matthews, New York Daily News on Sep 10, 2025

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Two Cornell students drew complaints from classmates over the weekend after killing a bear and skinning it in a communal residence hall kitchen.

The students, who have valid New York state hunting licenses, reportedly killed the young black bear and brought it back to Ganedago Hall, an undergraduate dorm. They then skinned the carcass and packaged the meat in the shared kitchen.

A complaint was made to the Cornell University Police Department Sunday night, but no charges have been filed, according to the school.

A photo of the scene posted on social media shows the carcass on a table covered with a camouflage tarp.

While it would be illegal to shoot a bear cub, both the university and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said the incident was investigated and no wrongdoing occurred.

Bear hunting season around Ithaca does not begin until Oct. 1, but early firearms hunting began on Sept. 6 in the Catskills. It’s unclear where the bear was hunted.

Users of Reddit complained about potential health hazards.

“Really shouldn’t butcher bear meat in a shared space. They’re one of the few remaining trichinosis vectors — and that concrete floor doesn’t look sealed ... ,” one wrote.

Trichinosis is a foodborne disease caused by a parasite. It’s contracted by eating raw or undercooked meat from an animal infected with the parasite. In rare instances, it can lead to fatal complications, according to the state department of health.

The Cornell Sun reported Wednesday that the kitchen is closed until further notice.

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