B.C. Conservation Officer Service is investigating an incident on Vancouver Island in which a deer had to be put down last week after being blinded by a pellet gun.
Sgt. Stuart Bates, with B.C. Conservation Officer Service, responded to the Dec. 5 call and said a blind fawn was seen wandering into an active construction site in the 5400 block of Bayshore Drive in the Hammond Bay area in Nanaimo, B.C.
The young deer was found to have a pellet gun wound on its head, according to Bates, and although it appeared to be fine physically, it had to be euthanized due to the severity of its injuries.
READ ALSO:
Bates said it was difficult euthanizing the fawn and a subsequent necropsy revealed a 含羞草研究社渓ittle lead pellet含羞草研究社� which, because it was such a small deer, had penetrated its skull and 含羞草研究社渟itting halfway through its brain.含羞草研究社�
In addition, Bates said there have been three adult deer in the Nanoose area, north of Nanaimo, which were hunted legally in the last two weeks, that were found to have previous air gun or BB pellet wounds.
Bates said that while residents may be frustrated by deer foraging for food on their properties and in their gardens, it is illegal to shoot a weapon at wildlife in residential areas.
含羞草研究社淭here is no open season for wildlife within 100 metres of any residence含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 said Bates. 含羞草研究社淓ven though they didn含羞草研究社檛 kill it, they can still be charged with hunting wildlife out of season. It含羞草研究社檚 illegal to hunt deer with a weapon that small. You can含羞草研究社檛 even use a .22, you have to use a centre-fire rifle that is capable of killing them humanely and this is why.含羞草研究社�
Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to call the Report All Poachers and Polluters line at 1-877-952-7277.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow Karl on and
