The reward for information leading to conviction of the person(s) responsible for trapping a raccoon in Beach Grove has reached $2,000.
The Fur-Bearers, a wildlife non-profit, announced the initial reward of $1,000 last week after the young raccoon was found in the area of 17A Avenue,a block from Beach Grove Park and Beach Grove Elementary.
The raccoon was found with a Duke-style trap on her leg, which had completely degloved her paw and broken it in multiple places. By the time she arrived at Critter Care Wildlife Society, maggots had infested the wound and the raccoon was humanely euthanized due to the extent of her injuries.
Gail Martin, founder and executive director at Critter Care, has personally pledged an additional $1,000 to the reward, raising it to a total of $2,000. These funds are not from Critter Care Wildlife Society.
“These native species are our natural heritage,” said Martin. “What is here today can be gone tomorrow. And every life is a miracle, every life deserves a second chance.”
“We are issuing this reward because this barbaric act demands consequence and because residents need to know the impact setting traps has on their community,” said Lesley Fox, executive director at The Fur-Bearers. “So long as trapping continues in a community these horrifying injuries will continue, too.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) Line at 1-877-952-7277. Anonymous information can also be submitted online at https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/.
