The reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person or person responsible for illegally butchering two cougar kittens has grown once again.
Wildlife charity The Fur-Bearers announced Friday that they have increased the reward from $8,500 to $10,000 due to growing concern from residents across the province. It is the reward amount in the organization’s 70-year history.
Earlier this month, the remains of the two kittens, with their paws and heads removed, were found on Hill 60 Forest Service Road, just off Highway 18 near Lake Cowichan.
Conservation officers think the remains had been there for four days and believe the kittens’ mother likely saw what happened.
In B.C. it is illegal to hunt cougars under a year old, any cougar with spots or cougars in a family unit. Conservation officers have said that in this case, there was absolutely no way these house cat-sized kittens could have been confused with a grown cat.
Shortly after news of the poaching became public, the North Vancouver-based organization offered a $1,000 reward but increased it to $8,500 after 10 individuals reached out and donated their own money so that the reward total could be increased.
“Donations received as part of a reward are held by The Fur-Bearers for two years, then rolled into our conservation, advocacy, research and education programs (including future rewards) if the reward is not paid out in that time,” the organization wrote in a web post.
The Fur-Bearers says they will not be accepting any more financial contributions to increase the reward at this time.
Anyone with information related to this poaching case is encouraged to contact the Report All Poachers and Polluters Line at 1-877-952-727 or by using the online form at https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/.
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