The Conservation Officer Service (COS) is asking for the public assistance.
Sometime between May 24 and 25, near the community of Big Lake northeast of Williams Lake, a sow black bear was shot and left leaving behind five bear cubs.
A passing motorist reported seeing a black bear carcass and cubs the evening of May 26, Conservation Officers attended the site and determined the sow had been shot and killed.
The cubs are in the process of being captured for rehabilitation at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society.
COS said Northern Lights staff have captured two of the five cubs so far.
“At this time, we are investigating and trying to determine who was involved in the killing of this sow black bear,” CO Jeremy Pauls stated on their Facebook post, “If anybody has information that may assist this investigation, please call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at1-877-952-72-77.”
Under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to shoot a sow with cubs, or any black bear less than two years old.
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