Whereas BCs small and rural governments are incurring waste disposal fees due to the illegal disposal of wildlife carcasses or parts on local government lands, including lands where people may be present, which is an offence under the Wildlife Act; And whereas discarded wildlife carcasses or parts is defined in the Wildlife Act as an attractant to potentially dangerous wildlife; therefore a potential danger to people and domestic animals when illegally disposed of on land where there are likely to be people. This illegal disposal on local government land then becomes a cost disposal fee to a local government: Therefore be it resolved that that UBCM request the Province of BC to investigate ways of preventing illegal hunting activity with improved language and clear direction within the Wildlife Act andor Regulations.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development The Wildlife Act has provisions specifically aimed to reduce situations that attract dangerous wildlife - such as bear, cougar and wolf - including the disposal of parts of dead wildlife that meet the definition of attractant. For example, it is an offence under the Wildlife Act to leave or dispose of attractants i.e., parts of dead wildlife in places where there are people or likely to be people. If a person committing such an offence is successfully identified and charged, that person could face penalties of 230 by way of violation ticket or up to 50,000 imposed through court action. Anyone that witnesses, or has information related to, an offence under the Wildlife Act is encouraged to contact the Conservation Officer Service Report all Poachers and Polluters 24 Hour Hotline at 1-877-952-7277. If a person mismanages dead wildlife parts on their own property and creates a risk of attracting dangerous wildlife, a dangerous wildlife protection order can be issued requiring the property owner or occupier to clean up the property within a set period of time. Failure to comply with the order by the deadline can result in penalties of 575 by way of violation ticket or up to 100,000 imposed through court action, for each day they exceed the time given. The Province provides direct communication to hunters through the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, BC Hunting Online and the BC Conservation Officer COS website. The Province will review the Synopsis and the websites and commits to making updates that improve outreach material profiling the correct dumping of hunting waste, safely and ethically, as well as improved details of the offence and potential penalties under the Wildlife Act. Options for improving expectations and deterrents will also be considered further as a part of an upcoming review of the Wildlife Act 2022-2025.