The BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) says officers recently handed a West Vancouver man a $1,265 fine for illegally hunting geese north of Sechelt.
Chris Doyle, the deputy chief in charge of provincial operations for the COS, highlighted the incident during a June 17 briefing on human-wildlife conflicts and enforcement operations across the province.
“This individual was hunting migratory birds, specifically geese, within 100 metres of a residence in a community north of Sechelt. There is no open season for migratory birds in that area at this time,” Doyle said.
Doyle said at least one Canada goose was shot and killed and the man was charged with a total of six counts under the Wildlife Act.
Doyle also said that so far this spring conservation officers have noted increases in reports of violations related to burning and campfire restrictions, hunting, fishing, off-road vehicle use, illegal dumping and the illegal use of closed recreation sites.
He estimated the number of reports in April was double the number in April 2019 and in May they were up 25 per cent over last year, but said there was no clear indication that the increase was related in any way to the COVID pandemic.
“It could be that more people were out there recreating,” Doyle said when asked about a possible connection. “All I can say is there was a lot of activity out there and there was a lot of people reporting activity, so you know there might be some linkage there.”
