Officials from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska State Troopers executed a search warrant Thursday at the Kroschel Wildlife Center in Haines, which led to the confiscation of dozens of animals, including wolves, martens, a wolverine, a fox, a lynx, and a porcupine.
According to state officials, the confiscated animals are being transported to licensed facilities, including the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Girdwood. Smaller animals were airlifted from the Haines Airport, while larger animals, such as moose, caribou, and a grizzly bear, were transported overland, crossing the Canadian border en route to their new homes in Southcentral Alaska.
The wildlife center, operated by filmmaker Steve Kroschel, housed more than 60 animals and was a popular tourist destination known for offering close-up, educational encounters with Alaskan wildlife.
On site during the seizure were several state officials from the Department of Fish and Game, including Director Ryan Scott, Regional Coordinator Anthony Crupi, Wildlife Biologists Stephanie Bogle and Roy Churchwell, Information Officer Riley Woodford, and Veterinarian Kimberly Beckman. The complex operation extended into Friday morning as teams continued loading and relocating the remaining animals. Troopers were in Haines on a related matter.
Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Austin McDaniel explained: “On June 26 and 27, 2025, multiple Alaska Wildlife Troopers were in Haines, Alaska executing a search warrant associated with an ongoing criminal investigation at the Kroschel Films Wildlife Center. Troopers completed their search on June 27th and released the property back to the owner. Wildlife Troopers did not euthanize or relocate any animals at the property during their search. At this time, no arrests have been made, and the criminal investigation is active and ongoing. While Wildlife Troopers were conducting their criminal investigation, staff from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game were taking regulatory action at the property.”
Kroschel, who has operated the wildlife center for years, has expressed frustration over what he describes as government overreach. He has produced a series of videos, available on his website www.kroschelfilms.com, detailing his perspective on the events leading up to the closure of his facility. In a YouTube video published earlier this week, he criticized the actions of both state and federal officials.
The legal backdrop to the raid stems from a 2024 decision by the US Department of Agriculture, which ordered the closure of Kroschel’s facility on Aug. 5 after renewing his license under stricter conditions. Kroschel contested the terms and later prevailed in court, but during the appeal process, he lost his State of Alaska educational permit, a requirement to operate legally.
It shows how stupid our laws have become. Shame on the State for participating.
They weren’t killed ” for testing” a la Peanut the squirrel?? Our liberals are slacking
No, you need a radical leftist drag queen governor to take things that far.
More government overreach, permits for this, permits for that…..where do I apply for a poop in the woods permit?
Hmm – seems like this could have been handled differently. Kind of a draconian and expensive bureaucracy reaction against a useful facility when he had actually prevailed in his case.
Again outrageous government over-reach. Remnants of the self-destructive US fanatical leftist culture… imagine, a good tourism Alaskan service that brings income for the State, however, strangled by an idealistic government culture, hell-bent upon its prevailing. Staggeringly distorted outcome for an inventive American culture; one strangling wealth and creative creation.
This heavy-handed action against Kroeschel and his much-loved animal sanctuary smacks of bureaucratic overreach and petty tyranny at its worst.
It reminds me of the harassment and persecution of many small food businesses and restaurants in the municipality of Anchorage by one rogue and basically insane manager in the municipal Dept. of Health and Human Services back in 2016, before that manager’s superiors became fully aware of the unjustified and ruinous reign of terror she was trying to impose, and shut her down post haste, before any of the building lawsuits were filed against them.
Beware: that insane and arrogant manager is now an ER nurse in Providence Hospital!