Suspected Poachers Have Killed A Rare And Sacred White ‘Spirit Moose’

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I think that most of us would agree that all animals are beautiful and deserve a chance to live. There are some animals, however, that truly hold a special place in our hearts and for residents of Timmins, Ontario, it was a white moose. Many people marveled at the beauty of that creature but for the indigenous people in the area, it was an omen of good luck and some considered it to be sacred. In the end, however, the moose suffered a terrible fate and the people who live in the area are upset over it, to say the least.

There are laws in place that govern how hunting should be done, and those laws include seasons and areas where the hunt can take place. Unfortunately, not everyone listens to the laws and some people go way too far. That was the case when two poachers illegally killed 2 female moose in the city and one of the animals was the white moose. There isn’t any law that stops hunters from shooting a white moose in most areas but they are considered sacred and are not typically shot during a hunt. In either case, these animals were shot illegally and their remains were thrown to rot along a remote road.

Chief Murray Ray of Flying Post First Nation had something to say on the subject. He spoke about the anger and sadness that people felt and asked the simple question, ‘Why would you shoot it’? He didn’t know why someone would shoot a white moose, even if they had a license to shoot a cow moose.

Now the killing of the moose is being investigated further by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. As it turns out, it is illegal in that area to shoot a white moose because they are protected. Chief Murray said that it isn’t a secret. There are even signs that alert people to the white moose so they steer clear of it. There is now a reward that is at $8000 for anyone giving information that leads to the arrest of those who are guilty of such a crime.