The BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) is investigating after two dead cougar cubs were found on Vancouver Island with their heads and paws removed..The service says the cubs had been shot and killed near Hill 50 Forest Service Road in the Cowichan Valley, with the incident likely happening at the tail end of April or beginning of May..Poaching wildlife is an offence under the BC Wildlife Act and it is illegal to kill cougars with spots or cougars younger than one year of age, as well as cougars present in a family unit..“The killing of cougar kittens shows a blatant disregard for ethical hunting and wildlife conservation,” said Duncan-based Conservation Officer Mark Kissinger..“Thankfully, this is not the type of offence we see frequently.”.COS says the beheaded cubs, which had been about three months old, were found during a regular patrol..Fur-Bearers — a Canadian charity established nearly 70 years ago — said Monday that a volunteer funded reward of $8,500 will go to anyone with information surrounding the poaching of the two cougars..“We are overwhelmed by the response of these individuals and the thousands of others who have shared our reward information and coverage of this poaching case,” said Aaron Hofman, the charity’s director of advocacy and policy..“It is a heartwarming reminder that the majority of British Columbians admire and respect our wildlife, and that we all agree there is no place for poaching in our communities.”.There is a legal process for hunting adult cougars in BC, which is allowed during a regulated season. A handful of hunters have shared their discontent on social media regarding the discovery..Also called mountain lions, pumas, or panthers, cougars — when grown — are the largest of Canada’s three wild cats, followed by lynx and bobcat.
