B.C. man charged after months-old bear cub found caged on property

A man from northeastern, B.C., is facing a number of charges after RCMPofficers found a caged black bear cub during a criminal investigation last week.

Officers initially went to a houseon Ferrell Creek in Hudson's Hope, B.C., on June 9to arrest a man for dangerous driving and theft, according to a statement.

While on the property, officers saw the six- to eight-month-old cubinside a green cage.

RCMPlater went back to fully search theproperty and remove the bear.Officersalso seized"a number of illegally stored/stolen firearms, tools, seven stolen vehicles including pick up trucks, ATVs, motorcycles and medical gear."

The bear cub was taken to a wildlife sanctuary with help from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

RCMP Const. Erich Schmidt said hunters have been known tobring a bear cub home out of pity after accidentally shooting the animal'smother, but in those cases, conservation officers are quicklycalled to collect the bear.

"It's the first time we've ever seen [a bear kept],"Schmidt said Monday. "It had been there for some time."

Justin Thibault, 25, was charged with unlawful possession of live wildlife under the B.C. Wildlife Act. He is also facing charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle, break and enter as well as possession of stolen property in relation to the initial theftinvestigation.

He remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Schmidtsaid it is not clear how or why the bear ended up in the cage.

A 29-year-old woman was also arrested in connection with the investigation, the statement said. She has beenreleased with a future court date.

Anyone who believes they havebeen a victim of a theftis asked to file a report with RCMP by calling250-783-5241, if they have not already done so.