A recent ruling from the Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) in British Columbia has brought the definition of “hunting” into focus. The decision upheld disciplinary action taken against wildlife biologist Doug Heard for his actions involving an endangered caribou herd under his study in northern B.C.
Heard, a former provincial government wildlife biologist and adjunct professor at the University of Northern B.C., has dedicated the past ten years to the restoration of an endangered caribou herd at Kennedy Siding, a crucial 223-hectare habitat for threatened woodland caribou near Mackenzie, B.C. However, his methods of obtaining caribou hair for DNA samples were deemed unlawful.
On November 7, 2024, Heard was observed by Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship staff using a “cable caster” device on a live webcam to collect caribou hair at a feeding station. While Heard had a permit for collecting DNA samples from hair and fecal pellets, extracting hair directly from the animals was prohibited. Consequently, his permit was revoked and he appealed the decision.
In a ruling released on May 7, the EAB concluded that Heard’s actions fell within the definition of illegal hunting as per B.C. law. The Wildlife Act specifies that hunting includes pursuing animals with the intent of capturing any part of them, such as hair, regardless of whether the animal is harmed or captured.
The province argued that allowing Heard’s actions would set a precedent for individuals to target specific parts of wildlife, and the EAB concurred. Heard contended that his use of the cable caster was less intrusive than his previous methods, but the board had previously ruled against those techniques in 2021 and 2022.
Heard is now eligible to reapply for a wildlife permit as of May 2, though he declined to comment on the ruling when contacted by CBC News.