RCMP investigating series of B.C. cow-poaching incidents

FILE: Cattle stand in a pasture on Nov. 30, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Authorities are asking for the public’s help investigating a series of cow-poaching incidents reported across three B.C. communities.

Mounties said they were first notified of a steer calf that had been shot and poached over the Sept. 26 weekend in Merritt, along Brookmere Road.

While investigating that incident, authorities learned of two other instances of cattle being shot and poached in the areas of Quesnel and Hixon, both more than 400 kilometres north of Merritt.

The cows were all poached while “grazing on Crown ranges,” Cpl. Brett Urano told CTV News in an email.

“I can advise that the cows in Hixon and Merritt were harvested for meat and the one in Quesnel was just shot and left,” Urano said.

Authorities are still working to determine whether the three incidents are connected.

While cow-poaching is fairly rare in B.C., Urano said investigators “have noticed a definite increase recently.”

The RCMP urged anyone with information that could help in their investigation to contact the force’s Livestock Investigations Section at 250-828-3128.