Just in time for Canada Day, and after a year-long investigation, conservation officers have charged two men with harassing a moose — one of the country’s most iconic animals.
You may recall the moose rider video of shirtless man standing at the front of a motorboat, which is chasing a moose through the water.
And then, inexplicably, the man hops on the moose’s back.
But the joyride ends with the man in the water, everyone in the boat laughing and one man heard saying: “I’ve never seen nothing so awesome.”
Not so awesome, as it turns out, under the British Columbia Wildlife Act.
The Conservation Officer Service announced June 30 that two men from Fort St. John, B.C. have now each been charged with three wildlife crimes.
• S 27(3) harass wildlife with the use of a boat
• S 29 attempt to capture wildlife
• S 30 hunt big game that is swimming,
“In June 2015 the COS received a public complaint relating to a video posted on social media of a male jumping from a boat onto the back of a moose,” the service posted on Facebook. “The COS identified the lake in the video as, Tuchodi Lakes near the town of Fort Nelson, BC. As a result of the year-long COS investigation, a Report to Crown Counsel was submitted recommending charges against 2 males from Fort St. John.”
CTV has identified the men as Bradley Crook and Jaysun Pinkerton. They are to appear in Fort Nelson Provincial Court on Aug. 8.
Wolf Tracker BC, a local hunting group, which posted the video on June 20, 2015 to kick off the investigation, updated it post with this note: “EXCELLENT NEWS!!! CHARGED.”
A happy Canada Day this July 1 for Canadian critters.
The video has been viewed more than 2 million times.
Photos Wolf Tracker BC/YouTube
