Peacock pop-in, backyard badger, dead shrew among ‘unique’ calls to conservation service

It’s not just E-Comm 911 call-takers in B.C. who get tied up with nuisance calls — especially when you add animals into the mix.

When the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) takes more than 30,000 calls a year about human-wildlife conflicts, some are going to be more memorable than others.

The COS has posted some of the most “unique” ones from 2022 on its Facebook page, including a “peacock pop-in.”

“Caller advised a peacock had entered their home through an open door. There is no threat to their safety, and the caller’s grandpa is not encouraging it to leave, due to weather. They will call back if it becomes an issue.”

Upping the danger level a couple of notches, another caller reported a backyard badger.

“Caller reporting a badger is making a den in her yard. Not concerned about it, just thought we would like to know.”

Someone who was quite concerned, was the caller who wanted conservation officers to know about the mysterious big, black, and grey animals that flew by their driveway so fast they couldn’t identify them.

Maybe they were migrating south for the winter?

Another concerned caller reported a shrew that had met its demise.

“Caller is reporting a dead shrew. Advised we are not concerned, but insisted he needed to make a report.”

Yet one more alert citizen said they saw a bear attack a statue that looked like a person, and it was freaking them out.

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And a few others contacted the COS because they were worried about a ram – a bighorn sheep – that was seen on its own, the latest sighting on a blind corner on a road.

It wasn’t so much about the safety of the big animal, they were worried it was lonely and needed a mate.

If you see a wildlife-human interaction where public safety may be at risk, the Conservation Officer Service encourages you to report it by using the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277 or online.