Steve Kroschel, owner of the Steve Kroschel Wildlife Center in Haines, is now facing multiple animal cruelty charges filed by the Alaska Department of Law. The charges include three felonies and two misdemeanors, accusing Kroschel of causing "severe or prolonged pain" to several animals, including a moose, porcupine, and brown bear.

The charges come two months after Alaska State Troopers seized 39 animals from the center. Many of those animals have since been relocated to new homes, including the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, the Alaska Zoo, and Bird TLC in Anchorage.

Kroschel, currently in central Russia working with grizzly bears at a wildlife center, spoke to Your Alaska Link by phone.

"It's unspeakably horrible to me and my family — and my family includes the animals," Krosch

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