Coaldale Taxidermist to pay $20,000 for violating federal wildlife laws
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COALDALE – A man from Coaldale has been sentenced and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine for importing a black bear hide from Alaska. He was convicted Jan.18, under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act. He also had to forfeit the hide.
According to a news release from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fredrick Thomson has also been prohibited from hunting outside of Canada for two years and must not import or export animals or their parts from Canada for two years for reasons not related to his taxidermy business.
The case was initiated under “Operation Bruin,” a North American-wide investigation into the illegal hunting of wildlife in Alaska, Alberta, B.C. and the Yukon.
So far, six Canadians and two Americans have been convicted in Canada, with penalties totalling $87,200. As a result of the operation, 36 animal trophies and more than $100,000 in hunting gear, including a plane, truck, all-terrain vehicles, a boat and a rifle have been ordered forfeited. 12 others have been convicted as well in Alaska.
