A reward is being offered for information about an illegal trap, which captured and ultimately killed a young skunk in Richmond.
Fur-Bearers, a wildlife non-profit, is offering $1,000 after the animal was found badly injured by Critter Care Wildlife Society on Aug. 2 near Williams and No. 4 roads.
According to the charity, the three-and-a-half month old skunk had to be humanely euthanized due to her injuries.
“These traps do one thing, and one thing only: cause suffering,” said Lesley Fox, executive director of B.C.-based non-profit The Fur-Bearers.
“Whether it’s a clearly illegal trap with teeth like the one in this incident or a so-called ‘certified humane’ trap, we regularly see the devastation they cause any animal who encounters them.”
The Fur-Bearers are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the person(s) responsible.
“Trapping to kill or trapping to relocate will not resolve human conflict with wildlife, and could potentially increase it,” added Fox.
"Nature abhors a vacuum, and removal of one animal simply makes room for another. The cause of the conflict is frequently human-sourced, such as leaving out attractants or directly feeding animals – even if it’s not in your backyard, it just takes one person in a neighbourhood to change the way wildlife behaves."
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277 or online.
