Group of hunters including social media influencers face 43 wildlife charges

(CTV News)

Four people are facing a litany of charges related to illegally hunting and killing wildlife, B.C. conservation officers announced Friday.

The total 53 charges—43 of which are under the Wildlife Act and 10 of which are criminal firearms charges—stem from a lengthy investigation into “multiple incidents” throughout the province, according to the Conservation Officer Service.

The violations specifically relate to the unlawful killing of two stone sheep, two mountain goats, one elk and four mule deer, the BCCOS said in a statement Friday.

Two of the accused are social media influencers who also ran a backcountry hunting site, the agency said.

The BCCOS says its investigation began in the fall of 2023 after a report of shots fired near a cabin in Sheridan Lake east of 100 Mile House, and included executing two search warrants in the Lower Mainland.

“This was a complex case that was investigated for more than a year,” said conservation officer Joel Kline, in the statement. “We’d like to thank the public for their prompt reporting to the RAPP line.”

The suspects and charges they are accused of include:

Daniel Gazzola: 26 Wildlife Act charges including hunting out of season, unlawful possession of dead wildlife, discharging a firearm in a no-shooting area, hunting without consideration for safety and making a false statement, and an additional seven criminal charges related to firearm seizures.

Emmanuel Porcellato: Eight Wildlife Act charges including hunting within six hours of being airborne, hunting out of season, and failing to comply with conditions of a species licence.

Cole Rogozinski: Five Wildlife Act charges including unlawful possession of dead wildlife, exceeding the bag limit and making a false statement, as well as three criminal charges related to firearm seizures.

Nicole Elie Rogers: Four Wildlife Act charges including unlawful possession of dead wildlife and using another person’s licence.

The individuals’ next court appearance is scheduled for Monday in Kamloops, the BCCOS said.