Unsolved Cases

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Incident: Caribou Shot and Abandoned near Cold Lake Air Weapons Range

On Thursday December 15, 2011, the Bonnyville Fish and Wildlife office received a report of a female woodland caribou found dead along Highway 41, north of La Corey, Alberta.

The Caribou was reported as having been shot twice with a rifle and found approximately 2 kilometres south of the gate into the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range on Highway 41. The shooting occurred between the night of December 7th and morning of December 12th, 2011. A small portion of the caribou meat was taken, however the majority was left to waste.

Woodland Caribou are identified as “threatened” in Alberta under the Wildlife Act. There are no seasons available for hunting of this species. Penalties under the Wildlife Act for hunting woodland caribou can result in fines of up to $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 2 years, or both.

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Incident: Calf Moose Shot and Left Near Grovesdale

On Saturday, November 5, 2011, Grande Prairie Fish and Wildlife Officers received a report from a responsible sportsman of a calf moose shot and left dead in a forestry cut block approximately 16 kilometres south of Grande Prairie on the east side of Highway 40.

The remains of the moose were found approximately 100 metres from the cut block access road near kilometre marker 6 in the Big Mountain Creek area. During the investigation, officers found the remains of a second moose, believed to be a cow, approximately 20 metres from the calf. There was evidence that the second moose had been cut up and removed, howver, none of the calf had been salvaged.

Officers believe that the same person or persons are responsible for killing both moose, likely on November 2nd and 3rd.

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Incident: Grizzly Bear Killed and Abandoned

On Tuesday, October 25, 2011, the Stony Plain Fish and Wildlife office received a report of the head and hide of an adult grizzly bear lying in the ditch along Range Road 20 and Township Road 540, about 20 kilometres northwest of Stony Plain in an area locally known as the “Patricia Hills”.

It is likely that the grizzly bear was killed elsewhere and then dumped at the location where it was found. Fish and Wildlife is unaware of a motive for killing this animal (such as self-defence or livestock predation) at this time.

The grizzly bear has been designated as Threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act and hunting of grizzly bear is prohibited in Alberta.

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Incident: Cow Moose Chased and Then Killed with a Vehicle

On the morning of August 24, 2011, a dead cow moose was found in a field approximately 7 miles northwest of Fairview, Alberta.

Upon investigation, officers found that the moose had been chased throughout the field with a vehicle, struck by a vehicle and had died of its injuries.

It appears that the incident happened some time late in the evening of August 23, 2011, or early in the morning of August 24, 2011.

A motive for killing the moose is not known. The animal was not gutted and nothing was salvaged from the animal.

Additional Information:

There were tire tracks in the field and a piece of a broken light cover was left at the scene. The light cover appears to be the type used to protect round, off-roading lights on a 4x4 vehicle.

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Incident: Pelicans Shot

On May 8, 2011 a report was received that two pelicans had been shot on a slough near a house approximately 3 miles north of Purple Springs, Alberta (east of Taber). A Fish and Wildlife officer examined the two pelicans and found that they had been killed with a small calibre, high-velocity rifle.

Then on July 19, 2011, another pelican was found dead nearby on the Purple Springs Grazing Lease. This third pelican was examined and had also been shot with a small calibre rifle. A motive for killing these birds is not known.

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Incident: Three Black Bears Shot and Left

Three black bears - a sow with two yearlings - were shot and killed during or just after the May long weekend north of Hinton, Alberta.

A third yearling was seen at the site by officers as they conducted their field investigation.

Nov 10, 2011 UPDATE

This case remains open and Fish and Wildlife officers continue to look for information that could lead to charges. If you have any information related to this incident, please contact Report a Poacher at 1-800-642-3800.

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Incident: Bull Elk Shot and Left

February 26, 2011 Hinton Fish and Wildlife officers received a Report a Poacher call of a shot and left bull elk on the Gregg River Mine south of Hinton. By the mine site, a large dead bull elk was located along the roadway just past the first super tube (underpass) on Highway 40.

The elk appeared to have been shot on the mine site and dragged the hundred yards down to the highway. The elk is believed to have been killed after dark and the suspects may have fled before loading the animal to avoid detection from oncoming traffic.