The Fur-Bearers are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the identification and conviction of the person or people responsible for a case of poaching near Kamloops.

Aaron Hofman, the Director of Advocacy and Policy for The Fur-Bearers, says the reward comes after a resident in the area of Roche Lake Road found the dead bear at the side of the road with only its paws missing.

In a statement Monday, he says that unidentified resident “appropriately” reported their finding to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BC COS), who are investigating.

“Poaching has no place in British Columbia,” Hofman said. “We are encouraging all residents who may have information, or may have witnessed unusual activity on Roche Lake Road on or before Thursday, September 8, near Kamloops to contact investigators at the BC COS.”

The Fur-Bearers is a non-partisan, charitable organization founded in 1953 to protect fur-bearing animals through conservation, advocacy, research, and education.

Hofman says anyone with information should contact the BC COS RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 or online.

It is not the first time a reward has been offered for information regarding the death of bears in the area.

In May last year, the Little Shuswap, Neskonlith, and Adams Lake bands offered a $3,000 reward for information after dozens of bear paws were found dumped in Anglemont over the May long weekend.