Älgar

Grabbarna var på fyllan, körde ikapp en simmande älg och en av dom hoppade ner på den. Videon hamnade snabbt på FaceBooks jägarsidor. För ett år sen. Nu står killarna inför rätta. Sicken baksmälla ...

The video surfaced on Facebook a year ago, instantly sparking condemnation from many animal lovers and the hunting community — and now charges under the province’s Wildlife Act. “It was very disturbing to see the stress level of the moose, with the males laughing and enjoying themselves,” said conservation officer Andrew Riddell, who investigated the case.

“They’re very fortunate that moose didn’t turn around and defend itself,” he said. “They’re very large animals, and they’re full of muscle.”

An adult moose can stand up to two metres at the shoulder and weigh more than 800 kg.

Jaysun Pinkerton and Bradley Crook of Fort St. John, B.C., have been charged under the province’s Wildlife Act with harassing wildlife with a boat, attempting to capture wildlife, and hunting big game that is swimming — a banned practice because it doesn’t allow for a fair hunt.

They are facing up to $100,000 fines for each charge and up to a year in jail. But as first-time offenders, Riddell doesn’t expect such stiff penalties. The lake, nestled in the Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park, is fairly shallow and often used by elk and moose as a crossing point, Riddell said.