Editorial
The severe punishment recently meted out to an Alberta poacher will hopefully serve as a strong deterrent to anyone who mistakenly believes that poaching is a victimless crime.
An Edmonton man who shot and killed a sow grizzly bear and her cub was handed a five-month jail term and fined $10,000 in one of the toughest penalties ever given to a poacher in Alberta.
The 52-year-old accused was convicted of five charges under the Wildlife Act, including hunting wildlife out of season and unlawful possession of wildlife. He was also prohibited from hunting for nine years.
As it has been for several years, it is illegal to hunt grizzly bears anywhere in the province, a prohibition that has been put in place by the Alberta government in an effort to give the bruins a chance to increase their numbers.
“Alberta Justice and Solicitor General takes poaching seriously,” said Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Jonathan Denis following the conviction and sentencing.
“This case highlights how Albertans can help protect our fish and wildlife resources by reporting suspicious hunting or fishing activity.”
As with many cases of poaching, it was a tip to wildlife officers that led to this recent case being broken – proving without doubt the value of the anonymous Report-A-Poacher system.
The West Country wilderness area along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains is one of the finest wildlife habitat areas in Canada, being home to grizzly bears, black bears, deer, moose, elk and many other species.
It is an area that attracts lawful hunters, tourists and visitors from around the world who come to see the wildlife in its natural environment, in turn, providing important economic benefits to many communities in West Central Alberta.
As such, poachers who illegally kill wildlife without following the hunting licence rules and regulations harm not only the animals but they also damage an important part of the area's economy.
Residents and visitors who spot suspected poachers are encouraged to do their part in bringing those persons to justice. Here are some of the things fish and wildlife officers ask people to take note of when they see violators:
• the date, time and location of the offence.
• licence plate number of vehicle.
• vehicle description, including identifying features, dents, stickers etc.
• description of the person or persons involved.
• description of evidence at the scene or evidence of the crime that the violators took with them.
Making poachers pay the price is in the best interest of the community at large – and residents and visitors are encouraged to do just that.
