The BC Coroners Service has confirmed that the bones inside a boot discovered on a beach in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood Thursday are not human.
Police had said that "remains of what appears to be human bones" were found in a boot along the water line at the dog park near the Maritime Museum on Thursday afternoon. The BC Coroners Service attended the scene soon after, and now believe the bones belonged to an animal.
Coroners suspect the remains are from a sea mammal -- possibly a seal -- but that will have to be confirmed in a laboratory. They do not believe the bones were planted as a hoax.
Twelve human feet have washed up in the coastal region from B.C. to northwestern Washington State since August 2007. Coroners have confirmed the identities of at least six of the nine feet discovered in B.C. and foul play is not suspected in connection with any of them.
Investigators believe the feet have detached naturally as the bodies decomposed in the water, and the buoyancy of the shoes caused them to float to the surface.
