Black bear illegally shot, leaving behind 5 cubs: BCCOS
Orphaned bear cubs are seen in trees near Williams Lake in this image handed out by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
Conservation officers are investigating after a black bear was shot and its body left behind outside Williams Lake, B.C.
The sow's killing left five cubs orphaned.
It is illegal under the Wildlife Act to shoot a mother bear with cubs, or any black bear under two years old.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a driver reported seeing a black bear carcass and cubs near the community of Big Lake on May 26, and believes the incident happened one or two days previous.
Staff are now in the process of capturing the cubs and bringing them to Northern Lights Wildlife Society for rehabilitation—two out of five have been taken in so far.
'This is an unfortunate situation. It is not every day that you see a black bear successfully rear five cubs at the same time,' said conservation officer Jeremy Pauls said in a statement Friday.
'At this time, the COS is investigating and trying to determine who was involved in the killing of this sow black bear. We are asking for the public's help.'
Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call the Report All Poachewrs and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
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