The BC Court of Appeal has vindicated a former BC Conservation Officer for his decision to euthanize a mother black bear, but not her two cubs.
In 2015, all three bears entered a mobile home park in Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and proceeded to get into the park's garbage.
After assessing the scene, former officer Bryce Casavant agreed to euthanize the mother, but refused an order to kill the cubs which eventually led to his dismissal.
"Mr. Casavant euthanized the sow but not the cubs because he understood, from speaking with the complainant, that only the sow had been eating garbage," reads the court decision.
"Killing the cubs in these circumstances would be inconsistent with Ministry policy.
Instead of complying with the kill order, he took the cubs to a veterinarian who assessed them and transferred them to the North Island Recovery Centre.
They were eventually released into the wild."
To everyone who has sent notes of congratulations - thank you! I do consider the BCCA decision a landmark win for BC constables. I can confirm that I have retained Vancouver lawyer @ardenbeddoes to address future matters. I will provide further comments at a later date. pic.twitter.com/nx7gGIDYG3
— Bryce Casavant, DSocSci (@Bryce_Casavant) June 8, 2020
A three-judge panel ruled that the legal process had been flawed and Casavant's dismissal should be nullified.
However, the decision does not order the Conservation Officer Service to reinstate him.
Casavant's Twitter states he has since completed a Ph.D in social sciences.
