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Poachers and dogs hound wildlife

Conservation Officer Service is seeking assistance in finding person(s) responsible for killing pregnant moose on Telkwa High Road.
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The local Conservation Officer Service is seeking the public’s assistance in finding the person(s) responsible for killing this female moose on Telkwa High Road.

It’s that time of year, unfortunately, for wildlife.

With the snow depth melting away, Sgt Kevin Nixon of the Conservation Officer Service said, dogs are having an easier time of getting around to chase wildlife, especially deer.

As with previous years,  conservation officers are seeing an increase in the number of incidents of dogs chasing and in some cases attacking wildlife.

Nixon recalled an incident last year where a group of dogs tracked down a deer.

“They literally shredded the deer, but left it alive,” he said.

The onus to prevent dogs from chasing wildlife is on dog owners, Nixon said.

This extends to potential interactions on a dog owner’s property.

“There’s a misconception that if a dog chases a deer on your property it’s OK,” Nixon explained.

“But it’s not.”

Conservation officers prefer to use education to solve the problem, in some cases that education can come in the form of a $230 ticket, Nixon said.

The worst case scenario, is to put the dog(s) down, Nixon added.

As if being chased by dogs wasn’t enough, local wildlife are always the target of poachers.

In fact, conservation officers are seeking the public’s assistance in solving the most recent case of poaching.

On Feb. 28 at about 8 a.m., a female moose was shot and left on the side of Telkwa High Road, approximately 3.5 kilometres northwest of the junction with Snake Road.

“The pregnant cow moose was not removed from the kill site and was left to waste,” Knibbs said.

The Conservation Officers Services is asking anyone that witnessed any suspicious activities in the area or has any information which may assist with the investigation to call 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).