Authorities in British Columbia are on the hunt for whoever illegally killed a grizzly bear found dumped in the Squamish river earlier this month.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said the bear was reported floating in the river on Aug. 10.
A subsequent necropsy showed the bear had been shot, and that a rope had been tied around it in an effort to drag it in the river for disposal.
Conservation officers believe the bear was killed between Aug. 7 and Aug. 9.
The bear had been relocated from Squamish in 2020, had been tagged, and was known to frequent the area where the Cheakamus and Squamish rivers meet.
Killing a grizzly bear in B.C. is illegal, as there is no open hunting season on the animals. It is also illegal to shoot a wild animal accidentally or in self defence, and then fail to report it.
Convictions under the Wildlife Act can carry a fine of up to $100,000 or a one-year jail sentence.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277.