A new conservation officer has been appointed to be stationed in Fernie and focus on education and patrolling the RDEK Area A.
The conservation officer has been appointed to ensure the preservation of the scenic and resource values within the Regional District of East Kootenay Area A, focusing on providing education and patrolling access management areas within the area.
All access management area users are reminded to check the legal requirements before heading into rural areas covered by the conservation officers. Access management area maps are printed in the BC 2010-2012 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis pg 51-56. The hunting synopsis is available in print at many outdoor retailers or online. For more information contact 250-489-8548.
Conservation Officers are working diligently to educate members of the public who use these areas and to assist with the posting of signs on all of the closed sections. However resource users are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations of the areas they frequent. These restrictions apply to anyone using a motorized vehicle, be it for recreational or hunting purposes. The public should know that under the BC Wildlife Act, anyone found in contravention of the legal requirements while accessing these roads or trails may be issued a $230 ticket. Also, that serious violations my result in the vehicle being seized and/or forfeited along with a fine up to $50,000 or a six month prison sentence.
The public is a great asset in passing along information to the Conservation Officer Service and have assisted the Conservation Officers many times in the past and are requested to please continue reporting any poaching, polluting or problem wildlife issues to the COS
Report All Poachers or Polluters (RAPP) hotline, any time day or night, at 1-877-952-7277.