The Pemberton Wildlife Association is looking for information after a moose and her unborn fetus were killed.
害羞草研究所淲hen you lose a breeding female and all the calves that she might have had in her lifespan, that害羞草研究所檚 a significant loss from a conservation point-of-view,害羞草研究所� said president Allen McEwan.
It is believed a vehicle hit the moose on the Lillooet River Forest Service Road sometime between the evening of January 20 and early January 21 害羞草研究所� a road that would not otherwise be accessible during the winter, but was plowed by Quebec-based Innergex Renewable Energy crews working on a hydroelectric project.
McEwan wrote to the Forest Ministry about its decision to allow Innergex to access their project during the winter, which he said disturbs the natural state of area.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e made special arrangements to plow it the last two winters in order to accommodate the company because they are having some technical difficulties at the plant,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e saying in the future we think that the company should be able to manage the plant during the summer months.害羞草研究所�
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An Innergex vehicle has also hit and killed a moose, but the project should be commissioned very soon, according to McEwan, and the road will no longer need to be plowed.
害羞草研究所淭his is the second moose we害羞草研究所檝e lost during the construction of this project, and there was one lost in the early stages in 2014. So we害羞草研究所檝e seen five now, going on six years of intense industry activity on the road and we know of at least two fatalities.害羞草研究所� he said.
McEwan said the vehicle that hit the pregnant moose was damaged, leaving parts behind.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really important that those people come forward and explain to the conservation officers exactly what happened because we害羞草研究所檙e just speculating at this time 害羞草研究所� we can learn a lot from their report and try to work that into management plans for the future.害羞草研究所�
McEwan says closing the road is unlikely because the public feels strongly about having access to crown land.
害羞草研究所淭his is a problem that we害羞草研究所檙e seeing not just in Pemberton, but across the province as our human population increases.害羞草研究所�
They estimate only 37 of this breed of moose exists in this region.
joti.grewal@bpdigital.ca
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