A $1,000 reward has been offered to anyone with information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for the trapping and killing two raccoons in Saanich.
One animal was discovered Aug. 28 near Cadboro Bay and the other, Sept. 8 in Cordova Bay. There’s no evidence indicating the same person was responsible for both traps, said Kari Marks, manager of the SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre.
The metal traps are old and the raccoons are believed to have dragged them for days or even weeks.
The reward is being offered by the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals, a non-profit group working to end the commercial fur trade.
While it’s not illegal to use these traps in B.C., municipalities can have bylaws prohibiting trapping, said the group’s Michael Howie.
“We believe trapping is inherently cruel and unnecessary,” Howie said Wednesday.
Trapping is an ineffective means of animal control, he said.
“If you ever get a chance to see an animal in a trap, it is one of the most horrifying things you will ever see. We are always concerned when we hear about trapping.”
There’s no way of knowing who laid these traps, Howie said.
“We really can’t say where these traps were [originally], because they weren’t properly tied down, which means the animals dragged them for at least several days.”
Anyone with information on who is responsible for these traps can contact the B.C. Conservation Service at 1-877-952-7277.
