A Squamish man is facing two charges in relation to the shooting of an 800-pound grizzly bear last year near Pemberton.
The man faces charges of killing wildlife out of season and failing to report the killing of game by accident or for protection, Sgt. Peter Busink of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said in a statement issued on Monday (Dec. 10).
The bear was discovered on Nov. 17, 2011, near Pemberton. No hunting of grizzlies is allowed in the area where the carcass was found, Busink told The Chief.
Last Thursday (Dec. 6), the man — who has not yet been identified — was served with a summons to appear in Pemberton Provincial Court on Jan. 10. The charges are the result of an investigation into the matter that led the CO Service to identify a suspect. Crown Counsel approved two charges under the Wildlife Act in late November, Busink said.
“This bear… was roughly 20 years old and in good health and condition for a bear of this age. This bear represented an important genetic link between fractured populations of grizzly bears in the area,” Busink wrote.
To report potential violations of fishing, hunting or environmental regulations, please phone the Ministry of Environment's 24-hour RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) RAPP line at 1-877-952-8277.
