Christina Lake man charged with feeding bears
By Boundary Sentinel
A resident of Christina Lake has been charged with one count of feeding dangerous wildlife under the Wildlife Act [Sec. 33.1(1)]. Allan Wayne Piche is scheduled to appear in Grand Forks provincial court on Dec. 14, 2010. A police investigation of an alleged marijuana grow operation in mid-August 2010 uncovered a number of severely habituated and food-conditioned black bears on a rural property near Christina Lake. The property owner had allegedly been feeding the bears large amounts of dog food, in quantities that were large enough to sustain them. As a result, the bears had become dependent upon humans for food and were docile because of their familiarity with humans as food providers.It is believed as many as 26 bears were frequenting the property in search of food. Grace McGregor, regional district of Kootenay Boundary director for area C, said that while she does not know the details of the charges, she is disturbed that an area resident has been charged. Conservation officers and Ministry of Environment staff did an assessment of the property and the bears, and determined that the most effective solution to the problem was to recommend a reduced feeding schedule. This would allow the bears the best opportunity to return to the wild while also protecting the safety of local residents. Inspections conducted by the Conservation Officer Service indicate that most of the bears at the location have gone into hibernation. As a result of the Ministry of Environment’s strategy, none of these bears had to be euthanized to date. “I’m about safety in my community, so I have always been concerned about when the bears wake up,” said McGregor. “I don’t think that they’re going to lose the comfort of where they got food. I worry about the neighbours, and of course worry about more habituated wildlife in our area.” Under the Province’s Wildlife Act, penalties for feeding dangerous wildlife can be as high as $100,000 for a first offence, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. Subsequent convictions for the same offence can result in a fine of not more than $200,000 and not less than $2,000, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both. Feeding dangerous wildlife threatens public safety and results in the needless destruction of wildlife. The public is encouraged to report violations of the Wildlife Act by calling the Conservation Officer Service 24-hour hotline at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277) or by visiting the website at www.rapp.bc.ca. All tips are kept confidential. Enforcement actions related to the alleged marijuana grow operation are the responsibility of the RCMP.
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