In a startling incident at Cornell University, a pair of freshman students sparked campus outrage by skinning a legally hunted black bear in their residence hall room late last week. The episode, which is equal parts bold and boneheaded, saw the two 18-year-old hunters turn Clara Dickson Hall into a makeshift butcher shop, sparking a campus meltdown, policy crackdowns, and a classic clash of rural grit versus urban sensibilities.
Around 8:30 p.m. on September 5th, Cornell University Department of Public Safety officers responded to complaints of a foul odor emanating from a shared communal kitchen in Ganędagǫ: Hall, a first-year undergraduate residence hall on Cornell's North Campus. Inside, two 18-year-old male students, both undeclared majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, were found skinning a 150-pound, black bear carcass on atop a table (likely a kitchen or lounge table) that was draped with a camouflage-patterned tarp to contain the mess. The students had reportedly dragged the bear into the building through a side entrance earlier that day to avoid detection after legally harvesting it during a hunting trip in Tompkins County over the Labor Day weekend.
Ye olde Cornell butcher shop
The students told officers they held valid New York State hunting licenses and tags, and the bear was killed humanely during the legal early bear hunting season in the Southern Zone, which includes Tompkins County. Their intent was to process the meat for donation to a local food bank and preserve the hide, aligning with New York’s “no waste” hunting ethos. However, bringing the carcass into a shared living space violated Cornell’s housing policies, which prohibit storing or handling dead animals in residence halls due to health, sanitation, and safety risks.
The odor and sight of the carcass alarmed roommates and resident advisors, prompting the initial complaint. DPS secured the scene, evacuated nearby rooms, and involved Cornell Facilities Management and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office. The bear was removed and disposed of per state wildlife guidelines, and the room was cleaned and fumigated to address biohazard concerns.
“This incident is deeply concerning and violates multiple campus policies on health, safety, and respect for shared living spaces,” university spokesperson Joel Malina said in a statement. “We are working closely with local authorities to ensure appropriate measures are taken.”
The two students were removed from campus housing and placed on interim suspension pending a disciplinary hearing by Cornell’s Office of Student Conduct. They are currently staying off-campus with family. The residence hall was partially closed for 24 hours for decontamination, and affected students were temporarily relocated. Counseling services were offered to witnesses and roommates who reported feeling “traumatized” by the discovery. The university also sent a campus-wide email reminding students of prohibited items in dorms, including firearms, ammunition, and animal remains, even if legally obtained.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed the students’ hunting permits were valid for the season (September 8–December 2 in the Southern Zone). DEC Wildlife Biologist Lisa Holler noted that, “While the harvest itself was legal, processing game on non-approved premises can lead to citations for improper handling.” Tompkins County Animal Control ruled out cruelty charges, as the bear was killed per regulations.
As of yesterday, no criminal charges have been filed, though the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing potential misdemeanor counts for public health nuisances or improper waste disposal, which could carry fines up to $250 under New York Penal Law.
