Charges Laid In Bear Feeding Case

By 250 News

Grand, Forks, B.C. - 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. 

You may recall  the story from this past summer, when  a  police investigation of an alleged marijuana grow operation uncovered a number of severely habituated and food-conditioned black bears on a rural property near Christina Lake.  At the time, RCMP were saying the bears were being used to portect the property. ( see photo at bottom right,  RCMP officer and two bears on  the property where  grow op was being dismantled.  photo courtesy RCMP)
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. 

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. 

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.  

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