State agencies raid Haines wildlife facility, seizing animals and serving a search warrant
- Chilkat Valley News
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
By Rashah McChesney
Chilkat Valley News
State Troopers and Alaska Fish and Game staff raided a wildlife facility in Mosquito Lake on Thursday, serving both a warrant to its owner and seizing animals at the center of a long-running dispute over the safety of the facility.
The Kroschel Films Wildlife Center is home to more than 60 animals – the bulk of which were placed by Fish and Game. The agency has been threatening to remove the animals since owner Steve Kroschel lost his his USDA license to open to the public in 2024. He lost his state educational permit shortly thereafter.
While he regained that federal license from the USDA in early March, after months of appealing he has not been able to get his Fish and Game permit reinstated.
Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang sent Kroschel a letter May 2 giving him a June 15 deadline to correct issues ranging from his veterinary plan of care, to the way enclosures were open to the public, to how he was feeding animals and sanitizing their water.
That list came with a June 15 deadline at which time Vincent-Lang said he would not issue a permit for 2025.
No charges have been filed against Kroschel, and Troopers on the scene would not share information about what they were looking for or reveal the search warrant.
But they and Fish and Game staff denied CVN staff access to the facility to watch as they trapped and removed animals.
• This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
