The RCMP says it has arrested the occupants of a vehicle in Fort St. John, north of BC, after discovering a deer cub in his car.
In a written statement, the Mounties said they stopped a vehicle during a traffic stop early in the morning of June 30 and found a one-month-old fawn in the back seat.
Police said after arresting the occupants of the car for possession of wildlife, they searched it and found drugs but did not specify what kind or amount.
It is a crime to have wild animals in BC, alive or dead, without a license or permit granted by the veterinarian in any of the provinces.
Conservation agents will help with the injured wildlife
The breeding season is usually from May to early July, when the fawns become more independent of their mothers.
The BC SPCA said that if you observe a fawn that you think is orphaned, it is best to leave the animal alone, as it is normal for a deer to leave its offspring for an extended period to look for food.
But if you appear injured or your parent is seen dead, he recommends calling the Conservation Officers Service, which can pick up the deer cub and take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.
The organization warns not to rescue injured adult deer, as it is difficult to keep them in captivity and warns that they can be dangerous because of their size and strength. It is recommended that you call the RCMP or the conservation service in this situation.
Deer in captivity dehydrated with digestive problems
The RCMP of Fort St. John says he handed the captive animal over to the Conservation Officers Service. On July 1, the provincial agency transferred him to the Rimrock Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Dawson Creek, about 75 miles southeast of Fort St. John.
A fawn a month before being transported to an RCMP facility, after being caught from the back seat of a car, police stopped at Fort St. John on June 30th. (RCMP)
Rimrock co-owner Corinna Harvey said the fawn, a young mule deer, was not injured, but had other health issues.
“He was dehydrated and had digestive problems, but he will rehabilitate well,” he wrote in a post on Facebook.
Harvey and her husband co-founded Rimrock as the first Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in the Peace Region two years ago.
Fort st. John Mounties say they are still investigating and are asking anyone with additional information about the incident to call police at 250-787-8100.
People discovering injured or orphaned wildlife are asked to call the BC SPCA Provincial Call Center at 1-855-622-7722 or the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.