The Conservation Officer Service is seeking the public's assistance in two separate cases involving the illegal harvest of elk.
The first incident occurred early in the morning on Jan. 10 sometime between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. A large bull elk was illegally killed in a cut block off the Duncan Bay Mainline just south of Jackpot Main which is located between the Forbidden Plateau Rd and Strathcona Parkway, north of Courtenay. The antlers of the elk were originally left with the carcass, however sometime between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. they were removed.
A two-wheel drive, metallic blue, extended cab Chevrolet pickup, believed to be 1990-1996 body type was observed in the area the morning the elk was killed. The truck also had a grey or lighter blue coloured eight-to-10-inch stripe along the bottom of the body.
The COS is looking to identify and speak with the owner and occupants of the truck.
The second incident occurred on Jan. 23 sometime before 11 a.m. on Highway 19 approximately five kilometres north of Roberts Lake, between Campbell River and Sayward.
The COS received a report of a cow elk that had been killed and was laying in a cut block approximately a hundred metres from the highway. When the CO attended only the rear quarters had been removed and the rest of the cow elk was wasted.
The COS is requesting if anyone has any information that may be related to either of these incidents, or observed any suspicious vehicles in the areas during the times in question that they call the COS RAPP hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
Callers can remain anonymous and the BC Wildlife Federation offers rewards up to $2000 for information leading to the conviction of person(s) contravening the Wildlife Act.