Disgusting find in the Okanagan

[campking]

Saw this this morning, I knew this type of thing happened but really? As far as I am concerned there is no penalty strong enough for whoever has done this!
"A North Okanagan woman says she came across approximately 80 bear paws dumped on a road and in a culvert above Shuswap Lake on Sunday."

[Blacktail1]

So a taxidermist or hide flesher picked a bad spot to dump skinned out paws?

[campking]

Never thought of that as a possibility

[tyler-brown]

https://www.castanet.net/news/Salmon-Arm/334864/Skinned-and-clawless-bear-paws-found-dumped-in-North-Shuswap

Apparently there was Cub paws. Doubtful on it being a taxidermist at that point

[kolofardos]

https://www.castanet.net/news/Salmon-Arm/334864/Skinned-and-clawless-bear-paws-found-dumped-in-North-Shuswap

Apparently there was Cub paws. Doubtful on it being a taxidermist at that point
How is it apparent that there are cub paws?

[Blacktail1]

Taxermist do indeed recreate Cubs as well . This story is gonna get legs over nothing . Pisses me off.

[boxhitch]

Scotch Creek is not really near the Okanagan.....


CBC embellishing the story this a.m.
'A Woman that describes herself as an experienced hunter makes a discovery.......'
'.claws are missing which are trafficked internationally......'

It used to be 'Observe, Record, Report'
Now it is 'Observe, Record, Hit SM with Rant'

[Weatherby Fan]

I would say poaching ring if anything, why would a Taxidermist dump just the paws and nothing else make no sense, jmho of course.

[300rum700]

The paws are the only thing usually left in the hide when a taxidermist gets them.

[russm]

I would say poaching ring if anything, why would a Taxidermist dump just the paws and nothing else make no sense, jmho of course.

If I brought a hide in for a rilugbid likely cut it off at the paws and let the taxidermist handle that part

[boxhitch]

Same for a tannery
The CSI will say whether the dump site has been used over time

[Dannybuoy]

If it was a poacher type situation , I doubt the paws would be dumped as next to the gall bladder that's where the money is ....

[jlirot]

Heads up. If you're poking around in the brush near my place you may come across an entire skeleton and paws with no head or claws. You'll have to poke pretty hard though because I dump my stuff deep enough that you can't see it from the FSR.

[Linksman313]

Wow an eyewitness who is "familiar with hunting" and can do math, now we're really in trouble.
Wasn't there a big hullaballoo about pig parts being dumped somewhere lately as well?

[browningboy]

Man that's terrible! Some heavy duty poaching going on...

[campking]

I suspect that is the case, but who knows either way we I hope us hunters are not tarnished by this!

[rocksteady]

I saw on the news comments from someone saying they are beaver feet. I am not a trapper ,maybe a trapper on this site can confirm or deny that beaver feet are a usual leftover from skinning?

[lovemywinchester]

I see it every fall around my place outside of Kamloops. Guys can't drive the extra 10 minutes to find a spot to dump a carcass? One guy dumped a deer carcass in the ditch on the side of the Pinitan road. Very busy road and the skeleton was in plain sight. Birds all over and farm dogs bringing bones home!! Lazy....

[Jagermeister]

She discovered a sasquatch cache. She should not frequent Anglemont Mountain anymore unless she wants the sasquatch adding her "paws" to the pile. Notice in the video her foot comparison to the paws.
Up on Anglemont mountain is not “downtown “ Celista or Scotch Creek. And it may have been a guide/outfitter disposing of unwanted limbs from client harvested animals. Small paws = small bears, not necessarily cubs.
We should wait and see what the game wardens have to say.

[Downtown]

How is it apparent that there are cub paws?

If you seen enough skinned our Bear Paws, you would instantly recognize a Bear Cup Paw.

I am always leery of reports with a proper date like Day-Month-Year.

If this happened recently, no doubt the COs will be hard on the Culprits Trail by now. Support them with all you know. This reeks of industrial scale Poaching and somebody got cold Feet.

Cheers

[lovemywinchester]

A bloody deer carcass with legs, ribs, skin, dumped on the side of a busy farm road when there is bush all around, that's the problem. Basically in front of a farmers driveway. If I have to explain the poor decision made by this hunter to you, well.....

[kolofardos]

If you seen enough skinned our Bear Paws, you would instantly recognize a Bear Cup Paw.

I am always leery of reports with a proper date like Day-Month-Year.

If this happened recently, no doubt the COs will be hard on the Culprits Trail by now. Support them with all you know. This reeks of industrial scale Poaching and somebody got cold Feet.

Cheers

I get that. What I'm asking is how has it been determined that there are cub paws? Have you seen the paws in question? Has a CO seen them and determined they were from a cub? Or is it speculation from the individual that discovered them, and sensationalization from the media?

[sakohunter]

Wasn't there a road side stop a few years ago that was a large scale poaching operation involving wildlife. Lets give the CO'S all the support we can to remove this type of violation and bring justice to those involved.

[Downtown]

I get that. What I'm asking is how has it been determined that there are cub paws? Have you seen the paws in question? Has a CO seen them and determined they were from a cub? Or is it speculation from the individual that discovered them, and sensationalization from the media?

I go by what the OP wrote for everybody to read. Unless you know more we are in the same Boat

Cheers

[fuzzybiscuit]

Is there even a market for bear gall bladders since the invention of the little blue pill? I would hardly think that bear paws alone would be worth the risk of being caught.

I’m thinking taxidermist too.

[kolofardos]

Wasn't there a road side stop a few years ago that was a large scale poaching operation involving wildlife. Lets give the CO'S all the support we can to remove this type of violation and bring justice to those involved.

So it's confirmed this was from poaching?

[Tred]

Is there even a market for bear gall bladders since the invention of the little blue pill? I would hardly think that bear paws alone would be worth the risk of being caught.

I’m thinking taxidermist too.

I imagine there likely still is a very active market, lots of bizzare thing people will do with their money. If there is enough money the risk then becomes worth it, just look at narcotics as an example.

My initial thought was poaching until. I stopped and reevaluate, seems like a lazy taxidermist dump site. (Poacher could of gotten "cold feet" though.

[huntingfamily]

C.O.'s investigating...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=5651748271533344&id=282011641840394

[Blacktail1]

C.O.'s investigating...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=5651748271533344&id=282011641840394
And it will not be a poacher . Someone with poor decision making yes but not a poacher.

[GreyDog]

Remember, there may be a situation where poaching is not really called poaching. This is based on the ancestry of the poacher. Other than wondering why the guy didn't just go to the dump, I don't see the issue. That area has a lot of bears. Sometimes, people shoot them.
Don't dump stuff along the road. It's stupid. GD

[REMINGTON JIM]

I see it every fall around my place outside of Kamloops. Guys can't drive the extra 10 minutes to find a spot to dump a carcass? One guy dumped a deer carcass in the ditch on the side of the Pinitan road. Very busy road and the skeleton was in plain sight. Birds all over and farm dogs bringing bones home!! Lazy....


There ALL ! HILLBILLY's living up there in the Pinantan area - most cannot even spell it correctly ! :p lol RJ

[walks with deer]

There ALL ! HILLBILLY's living up there in the Pinantan area - most cannot even spell it correctly ! :p lol RJ

Yup little cougar bait is best placed on the main road so guys might shoot one on there way to or from work.. if it was the paws from 8 bears you would have 32 feet looks like a lot.. sounds like a good weekend in the north shushwap..

[Stu]

I'm not an expert but if it was a poacher, wouldn't there be more left behind than just feet?
I don't think poachers would bother whit skinning out the paws?
As walks with deer said it's probably just dumped as a bait for coyotes etc...

[MichelD]

What I find contradictory is that bear paws are supposedly among the valuable parts on the black market.

If so, why were these discarded?

[Walking Buffalo]

https://www.castanet.net/news/Salmon-Arm/334864/Skinned-and-clawless-bear-paws-found-dumped-in-North-Shuswap

Apparently there was Cub paws. Doubtful on it being a taxidermist at that point

Did you not look at the video you linked?

I don't see any cub paws?
Some smaller feet which are Not cubs, one small foot which appears to not be from a bear.
Even if there are cub feet, that does not mean they were in possession illegally.
I have a 3 month old bear cub hide. Obtained completely within the laws.

Very small chance this is from poachers.
Fresh feet are $$$.

I would suspect a taxidermist dumped these bear parts.
This person needs a good slap, fine, and license suspension.

[walks with deer]

Did you not look at the video you linked?

I don't see any cub paws?
Some smaller feet which are Not cubs, one small foot which appears to not be from a bear.
Even if there are cub feet, that does not mean they were in possession illegally.
I have a 3 month old bear cub hide. Obtained completely within the laws.

Very small chance this is from poachers.
Fresh feet are $$$.

I would suspect a taxidermist dumped these bear parts.
This person needs a good slap, fine, and license suspension.

Why a fine or liscense suspension?

[Walking Buffalo]

Why a fine or liscense suspension?

Because he probably contravened B.C laws that a taxidermist has to follow for the disposal of wildlife parts.

[Blacktail1]

Oh bloody great now the natives are horrified by the poaching of sacred bears in there traditional territory. I knew this would cause nothing but bullshit... just get the drum thumpers on the sacred train and it’s all over. Grrrrr .

[Bugle M In]

Who knows what is going on.
Wait til CO's etc figure it out, if at all.

Big issue that comes to mind is if it was legit, like from a Taxidermists or whatever, i would say pretty stupid to dump that stuff
right there.
If it was poachers, nothing we can do about where they dump.
But if legit, they need to be given a kick in the ass, imo. (because that was where their head was at when they thought about
dumping it right there).

Do hope we at least get details as to what its all about.
Hopefully not poaching.
Just dummies i hope.??

[vincentcui]

The simple solution is to give bear paws to a Chinese guy like me. That thing takes a long ass time to detail clean, but it tastes so good.

[Codes44]

And it will not be a poacher . Someone with poor decision making yes but not a poacher.

What exactly is the difference here? If this is indeed poaching, is that not considered poor decision making?

[antlerking]

How many have taken the time to skin out a bear’s paws? Not a fun job very time consuming and delicate. Definitely not a poacher, the paws and gallbladders are the items that a poacher would kill the bears for. 100% someone that’s getting paid to skin those paws from a hide. Either outfitter, taxidermist or tanner made a bad choice of where to discard!

[Blacktail1]

How many have taken the time to skin out a bear’s paws? Not a fun job very time consuming and delicate. Definitely not a poacher, the paws and gallbladders are the items that a poacher would kill the bears for. 100% someone that’s getting paid to skin those paws from a hide. Either outfitter, taxidermist or tanner made a bad choice of where to discard!
^^^^^^^this^^^^^^

[MichelD]

Is there even a market for bear gall bladders since the invention of the little blue pill? I would hardly think that bear paws alone would be worth the risk of being caught.

I’m thinking taxidermist too.

The bear gall bladder has sweet phoqu all with aphrodisiac properties no matter how many times people misunderstand and repeat that myth.

Bear gall bladders are a source of bile, a fluid secreted by the liver and used in traditional medicines across Asia. Ursodeoxycholic acid, one of its main components, has been medically proven to help dissolve gallstones and treat liver disease.

But that has been synthesized so there is no real reason to continue using real bear gall bladders.

[boxhitch]

Then the news is spouting 'illegal dumping'
So that will be the new narrative and any dog walker that spots a bone will be calling RAPP

[fuzzybiscuit]

The bear gall bladder has sweet phoqu all with aphrodisiac properties no matter how many times people misunderstand and repeat that myth.

Bear gall bladders are a source of bile, a fluid secreted by the liver and used in traditional medicines across Asia. Ursodeoxycholic acid, one of its main components, has been medically proven to help dissolve gallstones and treat liver disease.

But that has been synthesized so there is no real reason to continue using real bear gall bladders.

Well I’ll be. I guess you learn something new every day.

That explains why I’ve still got to watch 2 hours of porn to get a chubby but have never had a gallstone...

[walks with deer]

How many have taken the time to skin out a bear’s paws? Not a fun job very time consuming and delicate. Definitely not a poacher, the paws and gallbladders are the items that a poacher would kill the bears for. 100% someone that’s getting paid to skin those paws from a hide. Either outfitter, taxidermist or tanner made a bad choice of where to discard!

This agreed or 5 budys went bear hunting with 5 freinds. All shot their limits..i have a butcher dump spot the trapper has taken 5 wolves off of...shot a bear 3 WEEKS AGO ditched the bones on fsr please anyone explain why this is wrong..guranteed outfiter or taxidermy clean up nothing wrong i would have tried to ditch from public eye...the spot i call the grave yard is a mountain of bones on a private access only fsr and it beats down local wolves......period...

[walks with deer]

Ontop of that its A LOT OF DEAD fawn eaters..

[walks with deer]

This reminds mw of 16years ago dead bear in my truck gettong fuel for my truck in whistler dead bear in truck only got checked 16 times will make a new thread on that.

[Jagermeister]

From Castanet.

Secwepemc bands offer $3,000 reward for information on dozens of dumped bear paws (https://www.castanet.net/news/Salmon-Arm/335335/Secwepemc-bands-offer-3-000-reward-for-information-on-dozens-of-dumped-bear-paws)Local First Nations are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case of dumped bear paws discovered near Shuswap Lake.The Indigenous bands of the Pespesellkwe te Secwepemc (Adams Lake, Little Shuswap Lake and Splatsin) and Neskonlith Band issued a joint statement calling for information on the grisly find.RCMP and the BC Conservation Officer Service are investigating the illegal action.The severed paws were found on Anglemont Mountain last Sunday."It was a shocking scene," says the woman who discovered the shocking scene, dumped in a ditch next to a culvert.The dozens of skinned and clawless bear paws included some from cubs."If you're familiar with hunting, like I am, skinned bear paws often look like human hands, the resemblance is uncanny, so, originally from a distance it was horrifying," she said.Both the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and Union of BC Indian Chiefs have expressed disgust over the incident.As many as 80 to 100 severed bear paws were found discarded, meaning 20-25 bears could have been killed."The carnage left behind indicates the actions of trophy or commercial poachers who hold a complete lack of respect for wildlife, hunting laws, and the rights of other resource users," the UBCIC said."Beyond the provincial legislation regarding the disposal of animal parts, Neskonlith Band and the Pespesellkwe te Secwepemc express their condemnation towards these disrespectful actions. They are offering a reward of $3,000 for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible for this slaughter and associated disrespectful actions," the bands wrote.Any information should be directed to Dave Nordquist of the Adams Lake Indian Band at dnordquist@alib.ca (dnordquist@alib.ca)."Our traditional stories teach us that the bear is a sacred animal forming the foundation of our creation law, the chief of the four-legged and deserves the utmost respect and dignity," said Splatsin Chief Kukpi7 Wayne Christian. "Many of our oral histories give us insight into the pivotal role that bear plays on our lands in the animal world and as part of our family."The conservation service can be reached at 1-877-952-7277.

Based on the evidence, 80 to 100 bear paws = 80-100 bears. Oddly, there are no other body parts. No hides, no rib cages, no skulls, no leg bones, just severed feet.

Who can't we point a finger at?


Well, it's highly unlikely that it is resident hunters because the number of bears is just too large . It would take a concerted effort by a group of resident hunters to conduct such an endeavour.
Not likely a rancher because he would not have gone to all the trouble of sprinkling feet in a location, no, he would have dug a trench and bury them lock, stock and barrel.
I don't think it would be Asian hunters because they would have extracted the gall bladder and removed the feet leaving the rest of the carcass behind and these would have been dispersed over a large area.
There are no bodies so someone must be processing the meat somewhere. It is unlawful to leave the edible portions behind.
Someone went to a large trouble to skin out the paws so there has to be interest in the hides.
No skulls, so there has to be an interest in them too.

So, who can you point your finger at?

[boxhitch]

There are not many legal sources where a collection of parts like this can be had, but they are out there
Dumping of such a collection in this manner reeks of malicious intent imo
The csi will tell if the question turns from 'how' to 'why'

[KodiakHntr]

Any taxidermists out there with teenaged kids?
"Hey Tommy, before you take the truck to town to chase tail you have to take the paw pile to the dump and here is $20 for tipping fees."
"Yeah you bet Pa, I will definitely take those to the dump....."


**Hmmmmm.... Paws from 20 critters kicked out on the side of the road in the news a couple days after I tell my kid to take paws from 20 critters to the dump... I'm definitely going to smack him upside the head over this, but I am absolutely keeping my mouth shut when the CO comes asking because I am protecting my kid.**

That could NEVER be what happened....

OR, some place that served traditional bear paw soup had a freezer go down, or had a feeling that CO's were getting close to knocking on the door and needed to empty a freezer in a hurry.
There was a thread on CGN a couple weeks ago about a guy asking the best way to remove hair from bear paws for traditional meals...

[Imdone]

Does the media ever report how Fanny the Flying Finn race horse got turned into glue.

Effin media and its spins.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Ontop of that its A LOT OF DEAD fawn eaters..

and that's a GOOD thing ! :-D RJ

[srupp]

Hmm don't think it's a reputable taxidermist...consequences too large..
This scenario is baffling...hmm someone who poached already has no concerns? But bear paws still have value in being sold..
Things that make me go hmmm,,,
Srupp

[358mag]

I smell a dirty rat . When Grand Chief Stewart Phillip was on Global news the other day bragging all about how " They " are the keepers of the land and FN respect the Bears and "they" would never harm any animals .

[Bugle M In]

I smell a dirty rat . When Grand Chief Stewart Phillip was on Global news the other day bragging all about how " They " are the keepers of the land and FN respect the Bears and "they" would never harm any animals .
Your also mentioning one of the worst chiefs here in BC.
Thankfully we have other chiefs who do not have is attitude 24/7.
Oh, and did i mention, he is far from being right most of the time when he speaks.

[tyreguy]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC 1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CY II=Bear Paw Caper Resolved - Sept 21,2022

In May of 2021, a gruesome scene struck North Shuswap, B.C. Passersby stumbled upon dozens of skinned and severed bear paws scattered across Forest Road 695 in the Little Shuswap Lake Band (https://www.lslb.ca/) territory, a local Indigenous Nation.

Initially, B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service suspected poaching, but after a year-long investigation, the service has finally uncovered who was responsible for the discarded animal parts: a taxidermist.
The bear paws fell out of the back of a taxidermist’s truck while driving along Forest Road 695 last spring. In a statement (https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/severed_discarded_bear_paws_indicate_cruel_unlawfu l_poaching) released at the time of the incident, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) estimated that there were between 80 to 100 bear paws scattered along the road.
Conservation officers confirmed that the taxidermist was in legal possession of the bear paws and that the wildlife parts have no connection with poaching or any black market trafficking.
5 misconceptions about bears (https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/5-misconceptions-about-bears/)
The taxidermist is cooperating with authorities, the Conservation Officer Service said in a statement. (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=456896899798572&id=100064347985660&set=a.300032058818391) Typically, the incorrect disposal of wildlife parts would land the taxidermist a $115 littering fine under the Environmental Management Act (https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03053_00). But in lieu of the fine, the taxidermist has offered a substantial donation to the Little Shuswap Lake Band’s Watershed Stewardship Guardian Program. The program is designed to train community members in bear awareness, public safety, and attractant management.
“The [Conservation Officer Service] and the [Little Shuswap Lake Band] are pleased this donation will have a more meaningful impact to the community and wildlife,” the Conservation Officer Service said.
The service did not release the size of the donation, but did say that it far exceeded the amount of the littering fine.
Any wildlife carcasses or parts, regardless of whether they’re the result of hunting, taxidermy, or other activities, must be disposed of in a lawful and ethical manner, the service stressed. Kamloops (https://www.kamloops.ca/city-services/recycling-garbage-organics/what-goes-where#!rc-cpage=241204), the closest major city to where the incident took place, states that small wildlife can be double bagged and placed in a garbage bin, while larger wildlife needs to be brought to landfill sites.

“This is to avoid alarming passersby, as well as attracting dangerous wildlife to an area frequented by people, which can create a public safety risk,” the service said.
Individuals who witness wildlife carcasses or parts being disposed of improperly in B.C. can report the violation to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277. If the incident occurs outside of B.C., look up the local Ministry of Natural Resources or conservation authority. Every province in Canada has a hotline for reporting poaching.

[walks with deer]

and that's a GOOD thing ! :-D RJ

Yes sir.. umm eating pepperoni right now..

[srupp]

How many have taken the time to skin out a bear’s paws? Not a fun job very time consuming and delicate. Definitely not a poacher, the paws and gallbladders are the items that a poacher would kill the bears for. 100% someone that’s getting paid to skin those paws from a hide. Either outfitter, taxidermist or tanner made a bad choice of where to discard!

hmmm yup my thought..skin out paws to throw them out..unlikely
no claws..looks exactly like a outfitter or taxidermist would do with a paw...however discarding them like this would certtainly attracted penalties..
hmmm
Steven

[sed8ed]

It was in the news a few days ago, it was a taxidermist, tail gate left open or accident or something and they got left behind on the road on the way to the dump site.

[LBM]

It was in the news a few days ago, it was a taxidermist, tail gate left open or accident or something and they got left behind on the road on the way to the dump site.

So is it a one way road where he would have had to drive back by them or he did not notice when he got to the dump and
oh every thing is missing i better go back and pick it up. Sounds a lot like some of the areas in the EK where the hunters drive
1 or 2 hundred yards from edge of town and dump there carcasses. The ones last week are right beside the hiking /walking trail
parking lot.

[180grainer]

Who would just take the claws? Who has use for bear claws?