Warning: photos may disturb some viewers
An unusual and gruesome discovery in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia has left residents upset over a coyote trapper's poor judgment.
A woman was walking her dog on Regent Street Sunday morning when she noticed three coyote carcasses floating in a brook.
The animals had been trapped, skinned and part of their front legs were removed before they were left to rot in the water.
A woman, and friend, who lives nearby says she could tell something was wrong when she saw the woman make the discovery.
"Children could have gone by and seen them," says Theresa Gallagher, who also hunts. "My friend's a full-grown adult and she found it very upsetting. It's just not a good thing to do."
The province pays trappers for every coyote caught as incentive to control the population but area residents say that's not the way to do it.
"I think it's sick," says Shawn Wallace. "There are other ways of getting rid of dogs and coyotes."
Both the Department of Environment and Department of Natural Resources say no laws have been broken. Trappers are allowed to leave animal carcasses in an area where they will naturally decompose, but some people are questioning the coyotes being left in the brook.
"We ask trappers to put their carcasses in an area like the woods or a place where the public isn't around," says Rob Paddock, a spokesman with the Department of Natural Resources. "If you're not a hunter or trapper it's disturbing to see a skinned animal."
The bodies have been pulled from the water and left just off the road. Gallagher says she hopes one person's poor judgment call doesn't tarnish the reputation of other trappers.
"Rotting carcass brings disease," she says. "My concern too is that little waterway stream comes down through adjacent to my property. My well is right over there. So is that going to contaminate my water?"
The Department of Natural Resources say it will not investigate the incident or looking for the person responsible. But Gallagher says she would like to see that person's trapper licence revoked and a fine issued.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl
