Conservation officers arrest three for poaching

An investigation into unlawful hunting of Roosevelt elk is ongoing after three people were arrested last week.

BC’s Conservation Officer Service (COS), with the assistance of Sunshine Coast RCMP, arrested three individuals found unlawfully in possession of three female Roosevelt elk in the late hours of Wednesday, February 20.

The elk were shot in the vicinity of Highway 101 in the Pender Harbour area. Two of the persons arrested were from the Pender Harbour area, while the third was a Powell River resident.

“The COS is presently continuing its investigation into this unlawful and dangerous hunting occurrence,” said Andrew Anaka, conservation officer.

The three people were arrested and released, he added, and no charges have been laid. “That will probably take several months,” he said. “Names won’t be released until they are charged.”

The arrests occurred near Ruby Lake on the Lower Sunshine Coast, Anaka also said.

Roosevelt elk were re-established on the Sunshine Coast in the late 1980s. “The population has grown steadily, resulting in limited hunting opportunities authorized for this carefully managed species,” stated a media release from the COS. “Hunting activities are primarily conducted in wilderness locations, away from populated areas and at times designed to ensure impacts to the population are minimized. The hunting of Roosevelt elk, at this time of year, was unlawful.”

Anyone with any information about this or any other violation is asked to contact the COS report line at 1.877.952.7277.