His boat was found with the outboard motor's lever in the start position, which was inconsistent with typical behavior if he had beached the boat or suffered an accident. Additionally, his firearms were left undisturbed in the boat, suggesting he may have encountered someone he trusted or was forced out of the boat.
Theories included a medical event like a heart attack, becoming unsteady while untangling seaweed from the motor, or encountering a dangerous predator like a bear or wolf. Another theory was that he was murdered by poachers or fishermen he had previously arrested or enforced laws against.
Hosea was blind in his left eye due to a childhood injury, but this did not hinder his shooting skills. He was widely recognized as one of the best rifle shooters in Alaska and an expert in firearms, writing articles for hunting magazines.
Hosea was the Chief of Predator Control for Alaska's Fish and Wildlife Service. He was known for strictly enforcing laws, making numerous arrests of poachers and violators, and was involved in relocating deer for repopulation efforts.
The boat was found drifting with binoculars, cameras, and guns inside. The outboard motor's lever was in the start position, which was unusual and led to various theories about his disappearance.
Hosea's strict enforcement led to numerous arrests of poachers and violators, some of whom were fined or jailed. This made him unpopular among those who sought to exploit wildlife illegally, potentially putting him at risk.
Hosea was last seen heading towards Pillar Bay Cannery, which was not yet processing salmon due to the season not being open. This timing and location raised suspicions that he might have encountered illegal fishermen operating in the area.
Despite extensive searches involving multiple aircraft and boats, no trace of Hosea was found. His disappearance remains a mystery, with no definitive answers about what happened to him.
His wife, Virginia, accepted a posthumous award for Hosea's contributions to wildlife conservation. She later remarried and lived out her days in Alaska, never knowing the fate of her first husband.
Bears and wolves were considered potential threats due to their presence in the Alaskan wilderness where Hosea disappeared. However, no evidence of an attack was found, and his body was never recovered, making these theories less likely.
When an experienced naturalist and game warden disappeared into the Alaskan wilderness while on patrol, alarm bells went off. What exactly happened to Hosea Sarber in July 1952 remains a dark mystery, but his descendants reached out to Park Predators to feature his story in the hopes of learning more.
View source material and photos for this episode at: parkpredators.com/the-rifleman)
Park Predators is an audiochuck production.
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