B.C. woman fined $350 for keeping rare, wild turtle as pet
A Kelowna woman has been fined $350 for keeping a wild turtle as a pet.
Monica Skublen pleaded guilty last week to unlawful possession of live wildlife under the provincial Wildlife Act, according to a statement from the BC Conservation Officer Service.
The charge stemmed from a report to the service's Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline in April 2022. The caller reported seeing the Western Painted Turtle advertised for sale online.
According to Castanet News, the ad was placed in that outlet's classifieds section, and read "Michelangelo – Aquatic turtle for sale to good home." The asking price was $250.
Castanet reports that a conservation officer went "undercover," posing as a buyer for the turtle and arranging to meet up in the parking lot of a local PetSmart to conduct the exchange.
That meeting turned out to be a sting, according to Castanet. After the undercover officer paid $200 for the turtle, two other officers approached Skublen and her husband and told them they were under arrest.
The turtle was taken to BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops, where it remains, the conservation officer service said.
Other charges against the Skublens were stayed, according to the BCCOS, which says the couple had been keeping the turtle as a pet for approximately nine years.
"In various parts of B.C., the Western Painted Turtle – the only native freshwater turtle in the province – is considered a threatened species, or species of concern, meaning its removal from the wild can have a devastating impact on the population," the service said in its statement.
"Every year, the COS encounters people who have taken wildlife home. These actions often end with the animal not being able to be released back into the wild. Taking an animal from the wild can result in it having an unnatural life in captivity, or the animal may be accidentally killed by the action."
Crown prosecutors sought a $500 fine in the case, noting Skublen's early guilty plea, according to Castanet.
The maximum penalty for possession of wildlife, under the Wildlife Act, is $100,000 and up to a year in prison for a first offence.
Castanet reports that the defence in the case asked for a fine "as low as possible" because Skublen loved the turtle and took good care of it. The defence also argued that she was not aware the turtle was "at risk."
The judge ultimately settled on a fine of $350.
"The illegal pet trade is unfortunately not uncommon," said conservation officer Ken Owens, in the statement.
"We hope this sends a message to the public that even if you have the best of intentions – such as people who try and 'rescue' deer fawns – your actions may lead to the captivity or death of the animal. It is illegal to keep any kind of wildlife as a pet. We’d also like to thank the public for their prompt reporting."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
BREAKING Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.