Man Threatens to Kill California Senator Over Wolf Legislation

By Erin Sherbert Wed., Mar. 9 2011 at 10:14 AM

Categories: Crime

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San Francisco's own wolfman

It's like a scene straight out of The Wolf Man. A fanatic of the carnivorous beasts was charged in federal court today with sending e-mails to a California senator, threatening to kill her if she didn't oppose legislation that would scrap environmental protections for wolves.

Tras Gustav Karlsson Berg, 35, of Oakland, allegedly sent a missive -- using his personal e-mail address - to the California senator on Feb. 24 titled, "Oppose the Anti-Wolf Continuing Resolution," according to a complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

Berg wrote, "I'm going to shoot you with a high-powered rifle and bomb your house with poison gas the way wolf hunters do if you don't do everything you can to oppose legislation that would eliminate Endangered Species Act protections for wolves across the country RIGHT F- NOW!"

Authorities wouldn't say which of the two U.S. Senators was the target -- Barbara Boxer or Dianne Feinstein.

Berg was referring to legislation that Republican members of Congress sponsored last year which would remove gray wolves from the endangered species list.

Authorities tracked down Berg and found him on the same day he had pleaded guilty to arson charges. He is also a registered sex offender, who has been convicted of sending e-mails and kissing a teenage girl from a Morgan Hill school where he was a substitute teacher, according to media reports.

To add to his rap sheet, Berg is now being charged with threatening to assault or murder a United States official with the intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the person's performance of official duties.

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