No Jail Time for Woman Who Freed Bear From Trap

Earlier this year, Catherine McCartney from Vernon was sentenced to 15 days in jail for freeing a bear from a trap. Apparently, a baby bear was stuck in a trap that was meant for its mother, and McCartney let it go.

In a statement that she read in court, McCartney said that, “These animals are innocent and so I made the moral decision to let the bear go so he could run back to his mother, and it was the right thing to do”.

She and another activist were charged with obstructing the administration of law and prevention of lawful taking of wildlife. She had previously been arrested during bear hunt protests in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Apparently her more recent offense was mistaken to be a more serious one from earlier. Their combined fines were reduced from $1,316 to $625.

She had walked into court prepared to go to jail that day- but instead was allowed to walk free!