Dead black bear with claws cut off found at Kashechewan First Nation garbage dump
Ministry says bear was shot in another area and then brought to the dump
Warning: this story contains a graphic photograph
Photos of a dead black bear lying in a garbage dump with its claws cut off have surfaced online.
The photos of the bear were taken at the Kashechewan First Nation garbage dump on Sunday.
Facebook user Isaiah Goodwin—who posted the photos—said he was sad and angry when he came across the bear's body. He often goes to the dump to watch the bears eating garbage in the evening.
He said he believes the person killed the bear for sport.
Ministry says it will not investigate
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry told CBC News it will not investigate.
Ministry spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski said Nishnawbe-Aski police services have spoken to the person who shot the bear.
"Our understanding is that the individual shot the animal in defence of property as it wandered through the community on Sunday," Kowalski said.
"The animal was taken to the dump once it was dispatched but the individual kept the claws for personal use."
Similar to hunting, if a bear is shot in self-defence or to protect property, Kowalski said you are permitted to keep parts of the animal for yourself.
Were the claws taken for trophy or profit?
It's not clear what this person planned to do with the claws, but hunting outfitters in northern Ontario told CBC News they could be sold for profit.
Bear hunter Mickey Major told CBC News parts of a bear, including paws, teeth, and claws, can be worth money.
"I've been told the claws of a bear are quite a delicacy for some folks," he said.
Outfitter Art Barefoot said he's been approached in the past to sell bear parts on the black market.
"A neighbour came to me and said he had a buddy, who said if I saved all these things I would get 'this much money.' No way I would get involved in that," he said.
But Barefoot said he's never heard of someone shooting a bear just for its claws.
"He might have just taken it for a trophy. If they didn't take all the other parts, then I don't think it's for sale."
Big money in selling wild animal parts
There is big money to be made in selling wildlife body parts, according to Faisal Moola from the David Suzuki Foundation.
There are several cases of poaching in Canada, Moola said, including one in British Columbia where eagles were being poached for their feathers.
"I haven't heard of any specific examples of black bears where claws have been removed...but I am quite familiar with the entire paw being taken off an animal," he said.
"In this case, we don't know why the claws were removed, or whether or not they're being traded within Canada... I think we have to very careful not to speculate motivation."