BC Conservation is looking for a person of interest believed to be responsible for setting unauthorized wolf traps next to a rural road in Kitimat last month. The traps ensnared a local womansa国际传媒檚 dog, sparking an investigation that has now revealed the leg holds were not set by the trap linesa国际传媒檚 registered owner.
Officials are hoping to identify a person caught on trail cameras at the site on Feb. 17 and 22.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e just looking to talk to that person and sort things out,sa国际传媒� said CO Michael Geuze. sa国际传媒淭he photo isnsa国际传媒檛 the best quality and you cansa国际传媒檛 see the personsa国际传媒檚 full face, but wesa国际传媒檙e asking the public to take a look and let us know if they might know that person.sa国际传媒�
He added itsa国际传媒檚 too soon to speculate if any fines or charges could be laid.
sa国际传媒淲e donsa国际传媒檛 know if this person has a licence, but after talking with the trap line owner we know they donsa国际传媒檛 have approval to be setting traps there. Isa国际传媒檒l have a better idea once we talk to the person.sa国际传媒�
BC Conservation was alerted to the situation on Feb. 15 after one of three dogs, belonging to Kitimat resident Alexis Toews, fell victim to the traps while walking off-leash along Saunders Haul Road, an area popular with snowmobilers, hikers, and dog walkers.
Attracted by a bait pile of raw fish, the animal veered into the bush and out of sight, triggering a toothless leg-hold trap almost immediately. The dogsa国际传媒檚 struggle led to the activation of two additional traps.
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In order to avoid further injury to the animal, the assistance of the RCMP and Kitimat Fire Department was needed to cut two of the holds from the dogsa国际传媒檚 front and rear paws.
The dog has since recovered without any broken bones or lasting injuries.
Authorized trappers are not required to post signage around traps near populated areas, and often donsa国际传媒檛 volunteer to give up their location over concerns of vandalism and theft.
Despite Toewssa国际传媒� understanding of trapping practices through her partnersa国际传媒檚 involvement in the field, she has called for a review of trapping laws in areas such as this.
sa国际传媒淚f there was a sign at the beginning of this road, which is far away from the traps, I would not have run my dogs there. Neither would other dog owners,sa国际传媒� Toews said at the time.
BC Conservation urges anyone with information about the identity of the person of interest to contact the BC Conservation RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
