Work is underway to expand a popular Sundre-based wild meat community support program to the Mountain View Food Bank, say officials.
“Animals that are killed by poachers, when we catch somebody with them and if we have to seize the animal, as long as it's in good condition we will give it to needy people,” said Fish and Wildlife officer Adam Mirus.
“We're hoping to work with the public health inspectors so we can expand the program next year, so we can have better distribution by potentially offering the meat through the food bank to people who want it.”
There is a list in the Sundre and Olds Fish and Wildlife official offices of needy families who want meat and understand that it's wild meat, he said, noting people can get on the list by calling the Sundre office at 403-638-3805 or the Olds office at 403-556-4215
“We've been giving away our seized wildlife for years now,” he said. “A lot of these people just can't afford to buy the meat.”
The two Sundre butchers that provide their services to the program are Savoury Meat and First Choice Meat.
“We took numerous animals to both those two butchers this year and because they know what the cause is, they have been donating certain fees, like a gutting fee and a skinning fee,” he said.
The families pay for the cutting and wrapping process only, he said.
Deer are sometimes split between two families and elk and moose are sometimes split between three families, which makes for an affordable price.
The Olds-based Mountain View Food Bank serves customers throughout the county.
