$12,000 reward after grizzly bear killed and dumped in Squamish River

Three non-profits are offering a cash reward of $12,000 for any information leading to illegal killing of a grizzly bear in Squamish.

Squamish Valley Rod & Gun club, Pemberton Wildlife Association are offering $10,000 for any information about the incident. The BC Wildlife Federation is also pitching in with $2,000 for any information that would lead to a successful conviction.

The Conservation Officer Service has also issued an appeal to the public for any information that may lead to the suspect in the illegal killing of a grizzly bear. The bear was relocated from Squamish in September 2020 and was found dead in the Squamish River in August.

Conservation Officers believe that the grizzly bear was shot sometime between August 7 and 9, 2023. The grizzly bear had a yellow ear tag and was known to frequent the area of the confluence of the Cheakamus River and the Squamish River. Upon investigation, a necropsy revealed that the grizzly bear had been shot and a rope was tied around it in effort to drag it into the river.

If you have any information, please contact the Conservation Officer Service RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.

Meantime, Parks Canada says the grizzly bear attack that claimed the life of a couple in Banff was the first grizzly bear caused fatality recorded in Banff National Park in decades. The couple killed in the bear attack were identified as Doug Inglis and Jenny Gusse by their family members, Colin Inglis. The couple’s dog also died in the attack.

At the time of the incident, there was no active bear warning or area closure in place and both were in a permitted area. When Parks Canada staff arrived at the scene, the bear was spotted, displayed aggressive behaviour, and proceeded to charge towards the response team. The bear was shot dead by the officers.