Partiers kill beaver, leave trail of destruction

Conservation officers investigating trail of carnage left behind group of campers near Summerland on the May long weekend.

A trail of carnage was left by a group who took to the hills near Summerland May long weekend has conservation officers frustrated.Ā 

A trail of carnage was left by a group who took to the hills near Summerland May long weekend has conservation officers frustrated.Ā 



Cleaning up after campers isn’t a novelty for Okanagan conservation officers, but the trail of carnage left by a group who took to the hills above the valley this past long weekend has them frustrated.

ā€œWe always get a little bit more wild behaviour on the long weekends, but May long weekend is usually the worst,ā€ said conservation officerĀ  Sgt. Jim Beck.

Up in the forested area that straddles the hills above Peachland and Summerland, that observation was reinforced.

ā€œThrough our Report All Poachers and PollutersĀ  line, an individual called in and said they heard a ruckus in the Headwaters Lake area and they went in after the dust settled to see what was left behind,ā€ he said.

What they found was a truckload of garbage and creatures protected under the wildlife act, slaughtered.

ā€œThere were some songbirds they killed and a beaver was shot and partially skinned,ā€ said Beck, noting that it was clear from the beaver’s corpse that the effort to remove its pelt was rudimentary at best.

ā€œIt’s senseless killing.

ā€œWe deal with all kinds of wildlife offences, and from time-to-time we get something like this.ā€

The majority of outdoor enthusiasts aren’tĀ  bent on destructionĀ  and have an appreciation of natural resources, he said.

ā€œGroups like these tend to be disrespectful,ā€ he said. ā€œ(This group) had guns, but that doesn’t mean they’re hunters. They were discharging firearms all through the night.ā€

Along with a trail of dead creatures and garbage, there’s evidence of a larger-than-permitted forest fire. The group also damaged the gate to the District of Summerland’s water supply, which has become a West Kelowna RCMP file.

Basically, when conservation officers finally find the people who made a mess in the forested area, they’ll have plenty of options for penalties.

ā€œWe have a couple of leads that we’re hoping will lead us to them,ā€ said Beck, noting that some good samaritans cleaned up the site, and took loads of pictures that are being catalogued as evidence.

ā€œIf anybody has any knowledge of who did this they can give us a call through the RAPP line.ā€

Anyone with information is asked to call West Kelowna RCMP or theĀ  RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.