$12K reward offered in search for Squamish grizzly bear killer(s)
Posted October 3, 2023 10:42 am.
Wildlife organizations in the Squamish area are offering a $12,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who illegally killed a grizzly bear over the summer.
The BC Conservation Officer Service previously said that it received reports about the bear floating in the Squamish River on Aug. 10. The service noted that a necropsy revealed the bear had been shot, and that a rope was tied around the animal “in an effort to drag it into the river for disposal.”
It’s believed the grizzly was killed sometime between Aug. 7 and 9.
Conservation groups are now looking for information that would lead to both an arrest and a conviction. Both the Pemberton Wildlife Association and Squamish Valley Rod & Gun Club have offered up $10,000 as part of the award, while the BC Wildlife Federation has put up $2,000.
According to the BC Conservation Officer Service, the bear found in the Squamish River had a yellow ear tag and was known to “frequent the area” of the Chekamus and Squamish rivers. The bruin had been relocated from Squamish in 2020, the service adds.
“It is an offence under the Wildlife Act to kill a grizzly bear, as there is no open season to hunt grizzlies,” the BCCOS previously explained, adding it’s also an offence to not report an accidental or defensive shooting.
A guilty conviction can net a person a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.
The conservation groups are urging anyone who has information about this illegal killing to contact the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
