Conservation Officer Suspended For Refusing to Kill Bear Cubs

Publish date
Friday, 10 Jul 2015, 3:54PM

B.C. conservation officer Bryce Casavant has been suspended without pay for refusing to kill two black bear cubs after their mother was killed for repeatedly raiding a freezer full of meat and salmon.

Despite an order to kill the cubs too, Casavant took them to a veterinary hospital and they were later transferred to a a recovery centre.

Robin Campbell, the recovery centre's manager, said the conservation officer did the right thing as the cubs are not habituated to humans and can be reintroduced to the wild.

"[The mother bear] was a problem, but these cubs did nothing."

After the story was reported in a community paper, an online petition was started asking Environment Minister Mary Polak to reinstate the officer.

The B.C. Ministry of Environment hasn't said what it plans to do about the cubs now, but in a statement said the Conservation Officer Service is investigating "this situation, including the actions of its members."

Ricky Gervais has commented on the story:

 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you