3 Caught Poaching Moose In Nova Scotia....

[camelNS]

CATHY VON KINTZEL / Truro Bureau
Natural Resources conservation officer Mike Hunter stands near the carcasses of an endangered mainland moose cow and her two calves at a department depot in Oxford.
Endangered Species

Some facts about the mainland moose:
- Native to Nova Scotia

- Less than 1,000 animals found in isolated sub-populations across the mainland

- Population has declined by at least 20 per cent over the past 30 years

- Designated an endangered species in October 2003

- Animals not the same as moose on Cape Breton Island that were introduced into province from Alberta in 1940s

Source: Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources



Poachers kill 3 endangered moose
Natural Resources staff disgusted by the wanton waste of wildlife
By CATHY VON KINTZEL / Truro Bureau

PARRSBORO - It was a wanton waste of wild lives.

The poaching deaths of an endangered mainland moose cow and her two calves near Parrsboro on Thursday have even veteran Natural Resources officers shaking their heads in dismay and disgust.

"I've been here 25 years, and it's pretty emotional to see moose piled up like that," said Mike Hunter, the conservation officer who arrested three Cumberland County men for allegedly killing the animals in Moose River.

"We take this very seriously because the mainland moose are declining so quickly," he said. "It's just no longer acceptable to shoot and kill them."

The incident is under investigation.

The Joggins-area men, 30 to 40 years old, could become the first people charged with killing a mainland moose under Nova Scotia's Endangered Species Act.

The maximum penalty is $500,000 and six months in jail for each animal.

John Mombourquette, director of the department's enforcement division, said he hopes that if the men are convicted, the court will order stiff penalties and "send a strong message that this type of activity won't be tolerated."

Department officials are appealing to the public for help in their efforts to protect all endangered and threatened wildlife, saying that enforcement is only as effective as the public support behind it.

The government has a toll-free number, 1-800-565-2224.

The mainland moose became an endangered species in October 2003, after years of population decline.

The latest estimates are that fewer than 1,000 mainland moose are living in isolated pockets around the province.

The most significant population, from 400 to 600 animals, is found along the Cobequid Mountains between the Truro and Parrsboro areas.

"That's a bit of a stronghold where they seem to be holding their own," said Tony Nette, wildlife resources manager for the department.

He said the mainland moose population is declining for a number of reasons, including poaching, health issues and possibly genetics and human encroachment. Samples will be taken from the dead moose, but from all appearances they were healthy.

Mr. Hunter was on routine patrol when he came upon the sad scene. He estimated the cow weighed 225 kilograms and the male and female calves, born last spring, each weighed about 101 kilograms.

"The men said they wanted the animals for winter meat," said the officer, who said he believes the moose were shot early Thursday morning.

"Killing a moose this time of year is like shooting a sheep in a pasture. It's cold, and the moose basically stay in one area so they don't expend too much energy."

Mr. Hunter, stationed in the department's Parrsboro office, also got help from Parrsboro RCMP and Oxford Natural Resources staff to seize two trucks, an all-terrain vehicle and a rifle.

It has been illegal to hunt mainland moose since 1981. But there is a healthy population of moose in Cape Breton, a separate subspecies, that can be hunted on a limited basis.

Nova Scotia's deer-hunting season closed about a week ago.



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Let's all Hope an Example is set out of these fellas!

[whitetailkiller]

i think it kinda says they got cought?????? if they did get cought then serves em right......if not then i hope they get cought!!!!!

[camelNS]

Yes they were caught,red handed!

[fisherguy]

well that is good they are going to be forced to hit them pretty hard. With those moose on teh list even the minimum penalty will hit someone hard.

[camelNS]

Court date is set for Jan.9/05.Will have some updates soon.