Warning: Graphic image below:
UPDATE: In early October Wilson Timothy Jack, 49, pleaded guilty to hunting wildlife out of season. Jack is scheduled to appear in Port Alberni court today at 9:30 a.m. for his sentencing.
The Ministry of Environment confirms one more elk has been slaughtered near Port Alberni.
This brings the total to nine.
Last week the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations announced they were offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading up to the arrest and conviction of whoever slaughtered the elk.
A spokesperson for the ministry says there have been some reports that as many as 13 elk have been killed so far, but they have not been able to confirm that.
He says they do not know who might be killing these elk, or why they are being killed. Some of the elk are missing their antlers or were butchered, but others are only missing one limb, or they have been cut a little, and the rest of the carcass is still intact.
The Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations issued a release last week citing the original eight incidents:
- The shooting of a cow elk near the Flora Lake mainline road southwest of Port Alberni, on or about April 11, 2013 and the subsequent abandonment of the entire elk carcass.
- The shooting of a spike bull elk near the Flora Lake mainline (10 kilometer mark) road southwest of Port Alberni, on or about Oct. 28, 2013 and the subsequent abandonment of most of the elk carcass.
- The shooting of one spike bull elk and one mature bull elk near the Bamfield Mainline (35km) near Franklin camp turn, southwest of Port Alberni, on or about Nov. 9, 2013 and the subsequent abandonment of an entire elk carcass and only the partial harvesting of the other elk.
- The shooting of one mature bull elk, two cow elk and one yearling elk near the Klanawa Mainline, southwest of Port Alberni and on or about Nov. 13, 2013. These elk appear to have been professionally butchered.
The First Nation is also seeking information on the reported killing of two antlerless elk in the upper Nahmint this past summer.
If anyone has information they would like to share, call the Report All Poachers and Polluters Tip Line at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277), or Chief Councillor Hugh Braker at 250-735-9888 or 250-720-7998.
The maximum penalty for a first offence conviction under the B.C. Wildlife Act is $50,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months, or both.
The reward will remain open until March 31, 2014.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council is made up of 14 First Nations from the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
WATCH: The shocking slaughter of Vancouver Island elk:
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