Abbotsford man pleads guilty to trafficking black bear paws
Posted November 14, 2024 11:36 am.
An Abbotsford man has been handed down a more than $8,600 fine after he pleaded guilty to trafficking wildlife, including black bear paws.
According to the BC Conservation Officer Service, the offences happened in Maple Ridge between October 2022 and October 2023.
In a post to Facebook, the COS says that its officers were tipped off by the public about “someone looking to buy bear paws.”
“Conservation Officers arrested one individual in the Lower Mainland in October 2023,” the COS shared.
“Bear paws and other parts are sometimes sought for medicinal purposes. Depending on the species and type of part, prices can vary significantly, from several hundred dollars to several thousand,” it continued.
The man received a fine of $7,500, and a victim surcharge of more than $1,100, payable by the middle of May 2026.
