Conservation Officers issued 16 tickets – totalling more than $8,000 in fines – to 14 people for using a motor vehicle in an area near Pemberton that is closed to the public for the protection of grizzly bears.
Those charged were occupants of four pickup trucks and two UTV’s.
Conservation officer found that despite signage warning people of the closures, many people were found within the closure area accessing the Meager Hot Springs.
The area is closed to the public. Conservation Officers issued 16 charges:
• 14 charges were issued under the WLA
• 2 charges were issued under the Off-Road Vehicle Act
• 3 warnings were also given
anonymous says
An interesting fact about the closure in this area, is that major logging operations are allowed to operate on the same roads during this closure. Dozens of full loads of logs are hauled daily on the very same roads that are closed and where the fines were likely issued. Wildlife closures are of the utmost importance and for them not to be applicable to industrial traffic seems short sighted… are these closures really about the wildlife? I would like to see some real reporting.
Collin says
Couldn’t agree more. Seems ridiculous.
Peter Legere says
I always thought grizzlies were quite capable of looking after themselves. Surely if logging trucks are authorized to transit the zone this is a good defense in court.