By Canadian Press

Poaching probe begins after cougar kittens killed, dismembered on Vancouver Island

May 6, 2022 | 9:58 AM

LAKE COWICHAN, B.C. — The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service is investigating a disturbing case on Vancouver Island that involves the killing of two cougar kittens.

A post on the conservation officer service social media page says it is appealing for information after the kittens were shot and dumped along a forest service road in the Cowichan Valley.

The heads and paws of the kittens had been removed.

The post says the poaching incident likely happened within the last week.

It is illegal to kill cougars in a family unit or cougar kittens with spots or under one year of age.

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Conservation Officer Mark Kissinger says the killing and dismemberment of the young cougars shows a “blatant disregard for ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.”

“Thankfully, this is not the type of offence we see frequently,” he says in the statement.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Report All Poachers and Polluters line, also known as the RAPP line, a toll-free tip line that takes anonymous reports about suspected violations of B.C.’s wildlife, fisheries or environmental protection laws. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2022.

The Canadian Press