The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is investigating a report of a person shooting an eagle from a boat in Saanich Inlet over the weekend.
A video of the alleged shooting was posted on Reddit by user peteyhadnohead. He started filming the boat, which was about 500 metres from shore, after hearing the shots.
“I saw a boat take two shots at something in the water,” he said in the post. “I started filming, and they circled what appears to be an eagle in the water and took another gunshot from the boat.
“Two eagles flew away at the same time. You can see a large wing rise from the water after the third shot.”
The Conservation Officer Service said Monday it was unable to determine what species of eagle was shot and did not know the identity of the people involved.
The service said it is an offence to discharge a firearm while a vessel is under power.
The offender could be looking at various provincial charges and fines, according to the Environment Ministry.
Those could include:
• retrieve dead or injured wildlife with a power boat with a loaded firearm: $115
• discharge firearm from a vehicle: $575
• hunt migratory birds with a power boat: $230
• unlawful possession of dead wildlife parts: $230
Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Report All Poachers and Pollutters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277.
