The RCMP is now referring to its efforts to find four missing hunters in the northeastern Alberta wilderness as a “recovery” operation.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mounties provided an update on their joint search with Parks Canada which now has three helicopters and more than 70 people involved.
The search effort involves Mounties, Parks Canada staff, a search-and-rescue team from Fort McMurray and civilian volunteers – including people in 30 boats.
According to police, the hunters left Fort Chipewyan in a boat on the Rocher River on Sunday night.
The RCMP said it responded to a call about the missing hunters at about 12:30 p.m. on Monday.
It’s believed the men were heading to an area near Fort Chipewyan known as Devil’s Gate.
READ MORE: RCMP search for 4 missing hunters in northern Alberta
The boat was later discovered in the river that flows through Wood Buffalo National Park.
“Parks Canada and Fort Chipewyan RCMP have now moved to a search and recovery operation along the Rocher River and its surrounding banks,” Mounties said in a statement.
They said the families of the missing men have been notified of updates in the search effort and that the names of the men will not be made public.
“The community of Fort Chipewyan as a whole has come together and assisted us with the search efforts,” said Sgt. Danny Knight, detachment commander of the Fort Chipewyan RCMP. “Their time, dedication and local knowledge in trying to locate these men has been instrumental.”
The RCMP said searchers are looking along the river and its tributaries in the heavily wooded area.
-with files from The Canadian Press
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