A Prince George man has admitted to shooting a wolf from a snowmobile on the Southside last year.
The man appeared in court on May 9, 2017 and pleaded guilty to charges under the Wildlife Act for discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
According to Burns Lake conservation officer Jeff Palm, in February of 2016 a provincial biologist found a snowmobile track alongside wolf tracks on the ice of Ootsa Lake. The wolf tracks led to a location where 12 gauge shotgun shells were present .
“It was obvious the wolf had been killed,” said Palm.
Recognizing that 12 gauge buckshot pellets are only effective at close range, conservation officers followed up on the complaint and tracked down a wolf hide at a Vanderhoof taxidermist. Examination of the hide showed the wolf had been shot with buckshot pellets.
In an agreement with Crown council to forgo a trial, the Prince George man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a fine of $1500 and a prohibition from hunting wolves for one year.
The public is encouraged to report fish, wildlife and pollution offences to the Conservation Officer Service 24 hours a day at 1-877-952-7277.