A $1,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of anyone involved in the suspected poaching of two black bears left floating in a B.C. river.
The reward, announced by the charity The Fur-Bearers Wednesday morning, came after two bears were found dead in the Harrison River near Chilliwack.
Yves Bisson, owner of Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Charters, said he had just repaired his boat and was “taking a rip up the river” when he saw something floating in the water.
“I didn’t think much of it. I thought it was a big garbage bag,” he said.
But when he got closer, one and then two bears came into focus. Bisson said they had their paws cut off and were clearly gutted of their organs.
Shocked, Bisson called the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) to report what he had seen. The officers called him back asking him questions about what he saw and was told the bears likely fell victim to poachers, according to Bisson.
A spokesperson for the BCCOS confirmed officers are investigating the incident.
“As this investigation remains ongoing, we are unable to provide further details at this time,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Bear gall bladders and paws can be sold for thousands of dollars to supply a global demand in traditional medicine and trophy markets, according to the BCCOS. Under the B.C. Wildlife Act, a conviction for trafficking in wildlife parts can lead to fines as high as $500,000, a three-year jail term, or some combination of the two.
Fur-Bearers executive director Lesley Fox said poaching happens year-round in B.C., and like other places in the world, can often be linked to other crimes like trafficking in guns and drugs.
“Fall is a sensitive time for wildlife. A lot of animals are on the move. Bears are preparing for the colder months,” she said. “This time of year, they are in a state of hyperphagia — they’re trying to put on calories.”
Since Bisson posted video and photos of the bears to social media, the incident has gained more attention from the public, and Fox says individuals have reached out to her organization looking to add to the reward amount. She said any updates would be posted to the group’s website.
The Fur-Bearers is asking anyone with security or trail cam footage to come forward as any bit of information is helpful to BCCOS investigations. Anyone with any information can anonymously call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277 or submit information on the service's online reporting portal.
For Bisson, the whole incident brought home just how common poaching can be.
“Most people, if they can see a bear, it makes their whole trip,” he said of his fishing charter clients.
“To see this carelessness, this waste, its reply disturbing.”
Video produced by Alanna Kelly
