There has been a setback in the effort to re-establish the Roosevelt elk population in the upper Pitt Lake area after a poacher or poachers shot and killed one of the animals late last month.
Now, B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service is on the hunt for the person or people responsible and is asking the public for any information that could help in the investigation.
“We think most likely… there are other people out there that know about this but aren’t saying anything,” said conservation officer Robin Sano. “We are requesting information from anyone that may have seen any suspicious activity.
The 700- to 800-lb., five-point male was found near Vickers Creek in the northeast part of Pitt Lake but likely floated there from further north.
Conservation officers located the animal on Nov. 3, but Sano said it was likely shot late last month. The elk was hit in the eye and in the shoulder, and there was no evidence that anyone tried to harvest the meat.
Roosevelt elks had been extinct in the area ever since over-hunting decimated the population a hundred years ago. But a provincial effort to re-establish the species in southwestern B.C. led to 23 of the animals being introduced into upper Pitt Lake in 2004 and 2005.
Since then, their numbers have grown steadily, reaching approximately 70 by the most recent counts. The population is stable enough that four hunting licences were issued by the provincial government last year but Sano said the dead elk found this month was hunted illegally.
Anyone with information about the shooting can call the Conservation Officer Service on the Report all Poachers and Polluters line, 1-877-952-7277.
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