In a joint initiative, the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) and BC Parks would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Steven Hodgson for successfully completing his Conservation Officer training at the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy, this past December. Steven’s training will greatly assist Conservation Officers in their work in the Bella Coola Valley.
Due to the current issues with grizzly bears and human conflicts in the Bella Coola Valley, BC Parks and the COS agree, that Steven’s commitment to the COS should focus on public safety and assistance with human/wildlife conflicts at this time. This has been identified as the most important priority for this new position of cooperation between BC Parks and the Conservation Officer Service. Steven Hodgson’s new responsibilities will be reviewed annually and amended as required.
The COS and BC Parks will be engaging local governments, both CCRD and the Nuxalk Nation, as well as other government agencies, Wildsafe BC and provincial large carnivore and predator conflict specialists to work together with the Bella Coola Valley community to address and find solutions to the human/wildlife conflicts. It will take the proactive efforts of everyone to make progress on this issue.
The COS are grateful for the professional assistance Steven has provided to the COS in the past and looking forward to his continued support in responding to some of the human/wildlife conflicts in the Bella Coola Valley. If you have a problem wildlife complaint please call the RAPP Line at 1-877-952-7277 and the COS will notify Steven if assistance is required.