Alberta Fish and Wildlife is looking to the public for help as officers investigate a poaching incident that allegedly happened near Strathmore late last year.
Fish and Wildlife officers were called to an area near Namaka Lake, about 50 kilometres east of Calgary, on Dec. 28 over reports of people firing a gun not too far (about 40 metres) from an occupied home.
According to a social media post from Fish and Wildlife, it’s believed the suspects were shooting at game birds in a field adjacent to the home, either from a road or inside a vehicle.
A neighbour confronted the suspects, who allegedly sped off.
“It is believed that at least two people were inside the vehicle at the time of the offence,” Fish and Wildlife said.
The vehicle is described as a newer-model light greyish-green Jeep Wrangler – or similar Jeep body style – with a square body and a tire mounted on the rear hatch.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife shared photos of a similar make and model to the suspect vehicle to help people identify what they’re looking for.
“Under the Alberta Wildlife Act, it is an offence to discharge a firearm or cause a projectile to pass within 200 yards of occupied buildings and to hunt on occupied land without landowner permission,” Fish and Wildlife warned.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Calgary or Strathmore Fish and Wildlife Office at 403-297-6423, or the Report-A-Poacher Line at 1-800-642-3800.
Information can also be reported online.
