Watching this newreel breaks my heart

samsplacci71

samsplacci71

Regular
Rating - 100%
44   0   0
Location
Toronto area
A majestic Elk, going about his business. A total waste IMO. I am not going to bash LEO's here. I'm just saying that with all the wildlife in and around the Ottawa Valley area, this is the best strategy they have to deal with a wandering Elk....brutal. The ministry has just reintrudoced and is monitoring these elk in the Bancroft area...:mad:

http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/video.aspx?cp-documentid=cbcc2013-0810-1844-0005-241117407200
 
If it ran onto the highway and killed someone people would be all over the police. Not really a great situation to be in for all involved parties.

And the Bancroft herd is doing extraordinarily well. This one animal wont make or break the re-introduction effort.
 
I was there and witnessed a couple things the media or police didn't mention. First up, there were at least 30 police officers on the scene for about 7 hours. Approx. 10-14 police vehicles, including an unmarked Suburban, 2 swat trucks (varied at times), 3 conservation pickups, 3 city of Ottawa vehicles, 2 with flatbed trailers. Some of the officers were even carrying various AR-15s, y'know just in case this Elk turns out to be a fully automatic assault Elk I suppose. The circus the police put on was truly next level for what was an Elk just grazing along the side of a steep embankment, bordered by fences and the Otrain tracks (with their own set of fences). Aside from the fact that the Elk didn't need to be shot, people are ignoring the fact that I'm sure 100k was wasted on this 'operation'. I'd expect that type of response for a hostage situation or a REAL emergency, but an overgrown deer? Come the #### on! The police never once approached the animal, and once the swat team sniper took his spot up on the loading ramp at the side of the building I figured Mr.Elk was a goner anyway. In the "public safety" vein this was all done in supposedly, the police forced an elderly woman to climb down a rocky embankment, nearly falling in the process, just so she didn't walk up the ramp past the sniper. How's that for safety?

I suppose they never got a close enough shot on the elk because he didn't walk up to the driver side window of the guy holding the tranquilizer gun in the cab of his truck so they let the SWAT guy do his thing. They didn't attempt to corral it or get any closer at all. It spent the whole time either eating or laying in the shade, and the video clips shown were of EVERY single time it moved. One of the camera men said they only wanted "action shots" because "who cares about an Elk laying down and eating"

The sniper shot it at about 50 yards with a .308, a bow hunter could have easily made the shot. Why didn't they get one of their big tough AR-15 guys to 'escort' someone with the tranq gun? Bull gets unruly and then shoot him if you can't get close enough, but at least attempt it. NOPE!

I'm a hunter, I'm a gun guy, but I didn't see why this had to shake out the way the police insist it had to. Then again, what other response did you expect than the typical "we did everything we could..."? Would the public accept "Yeah, we just waited until 30 minutes before rush hour, hung out for almost 8 hours watching an Elk eat, then shot it, like we planned to all along, then play the PUBLIC SAFETY card!!"?

Should I expect 30 officers the next time I see a coyote in Orleans, a rabid coon in a dumpster downtown, or Deer near the 417? 'Cause y'know PUBLIC SAFETY is at risk there too!! The issue I really have is the over the top police response to something that doesn't need that kind of attention from the cops.

In hindsight, I really wish I'd taken a photo or two of the "scene" to really let people see their tax dollars at work. I did get a couple of the Elk though!
 
Last edited:
Finch said:
I was there and witnessed a couple things the media or police didn't mention. First up, there were at least 30 police officers on the scene for about 7 hours. Approx. 10-14 police vehicles, including an unmarked Suburban, 2 swat trucks (varied at times), 3 conservation pickups, 3 city of Ottawa vehicles, 2 with flatbed trailers. Some of the officers were even carrying various AR-15s, y'know just in case this Elk turns out to be a fully automatic assault Elk I suppose. The circus the police put on was truly next level for what was an Elk just grazing along the side of a steep embankment, bordered by fences and the Otrain tracks (with their own set of fences). Aside from the fact that the Elk didn't need to be shot, people are ignoring the fact that I'm sure 100k was wasted on this 'operation'. I'd expect that type of response for a hostage situation or a REAL emergency, but an overgrown deer? Come the #### on! The police never once approached the animal, and once the swat team sniper took his spot up on the loading ramp at the side of the building I figured Mr.Elk was a goner anyway. In the "public safety" vein this was all done in supposedly, the police forced an elderly woman to climb down a rocky embankment, nearly falling in the process, just so she didn't walk up the ramp past the sniper. How's that for safety?

I suppose they never got a close enough shot on the elk because he didn't walk up to the driver side window of the guy holding the tranquilizer gun in the cab of his truck so they let the SWAT guy do his thing. They didn't attempt to corral it or get any closer at all. It spent the whole time either eating or laying in the shade, and the video clips shown were of EVERY single time it moved. One of the camera men said they only wanted "action shots" because "who cares about an Elk laying down and eating"

The sniper shot it at about 50 yards with a .308, a bow hunter could have easily made the shot. Why didn't they get one of their big tough AR-15 guys to 'escort' someone with the tranq gun? Bull gets unruly and then shoot him if you can't get close enough, but at least attempt it. NOPE!

I'm a hunter, I'm a gun guy, but I didn't see why this had to shake out the way the police insist it had to. Then again, what other response did you expect than the typical "we did everything we could..."? Would the public accept "Yeah, we just waited until 30 minutes before rush hour, hung out for almost 8 hours watching an Elk eat, then shot it, like we planned to all along, then play the PUBLIC SAFETY card!!"?

Should I expect 30 officers the next time I see a coyote in Orleans, a rabid coon in a dumpster downtown, or Deer near the 417? 'Cause y'know PUBLIC SAFETY is at risk there too!! The issue I really have is the over the top police response to something that doesn't need that kind of attention from the cops.

In hindsight, I really wish I'd taken a photo or two of the "scene" to really let people see their tax dollars at work. I did get a couple of the Elk though!
Click to expand...

I imagine there are news stations that would have paid for those photos!
What an idiotic situation. Thanks for the realistic update.
 
You're damned if you do, damned if you don't. There was a video going around a few years back, of a man being fatally stomped to death by a moose in Alaska, in Anchorage I believe outside of a library. Ya, poor frightened moose....

I wonder what all these granola munchers would say if something similar happened here f:P:
 
The meat prolly went to a homeless shelter (hopefully)and has anyone been following the Moose situation in Newfoundland?
Hit that Elk at highway speeds in a Honda Fit and see how much howling from all the yuppies .
All in a days work for the OPP.
Sucks, but what choice where they ordered?
Rob
 
Ottawa Police. It came from the Green belt to the west, and should have been chased out with bangers or tranquilized and relocated. I grew up there, and elk were unheard of. Now that they're making a comeback, it's a crucial time to NOT waste these resources. Horrible, horrible bad decision.
There were COs on site, but they were too afraid to tranq it.
 
Tranquilizers are not a sure thing. A stressed animal can still die when tranqued. In the end it still is a lot of money to move an animal that might not survive transport.
 
ElkMasterC said:
Ottawa Police. It came from the Green belt to the west, and should have been chased out with bangers or tranquilized and relocated. I grew up there, and elk were unheard of. Now that they're making a comeback, it's a crucial time to NOT waste these resources. Horrible, horrible bad decision.
There were COs on site, but they were too afraid to tranq it.[/QUOTE]

Quite often in my experience, CO's refuse to do anything with wildlife found within the city, instead sluffing it off on either bylaws or the police force in jurisdiction.
Click to expand...
 
Wow....terrifying.....an elk on the side of the road.
I drive past them every week....on the way to work or on the way to town.
It not a big deal here on Vancouver Island. They run around all over and graze
beside the highway. I've seen 2 get hit in the last 10 years.
The cops out here couldn't afford the ammo if they had to shoot every one standing on the side of a highway.
Sounds like not enough for all those cops to do and to much testosterone!
 
Should have been tranq'ed & moved... But, if history is any indication, ALL big game animals that enter the city are deemed 'a public safety threat' and shot...

IMHO, not enough effort is EVER put forth to save the animal... Case in point, I can not think of a SINGLE example of a successful tranq & move story here in the city...

And, if you go to the stats, if they were really putting an effort forth, then they should be able to say, we tranq'ed & moved 15 out of the last 20 animals that wandered into the city... Nope, the two moose last year & this elk were ALL shot...

I could walk to the spot the elk was, in about 10 mins from my place. They could not have asked for a BETTER place to keep it contained until someone could dart it...

Regards
Jay
 
Finch said:
I was there and witnessed a couple things the media or police didn't mention. First up, there were at least 30 police officers on the scene for about 7 hours. Approx. 10-14 police vehicles, including an unmarked Suburban, 2 swat trucks (varied at times), 3 conservation pickups, 3 city of Ottawa vehicles, 2 with flatbed trailers. Some of the officers were even carrying various AR-15s, y'know just in case this Elk turns out to be a fully automatic assault Elk I suppose. The circus the police put on was truly next level for what was an Elk just grazing along the side of a steep embankment, bordered by fences and the Otrain tracks (with their own set of fences). Aside from the fact that the Elk didn't need to be shot, people are ignoring the fact that I'm sure 100k was wasted on this 'operation'. I'd expect that type of response for a hostage situation or a REAL emergency, but an overgrown deer? Come the #### on! The police never once approached the animal, and once the swat team sniper took his spot up on the loading ramp at the side of the building I figured Mr.Elk was a goner anyway. In the "public safety" vein this was all done in supposedly, the police forced an elderly woman to climb down a rocky embankment, nearly falling in the process, just so she didn't walk up the ramp past the sniper. How's that for safety?

I suppose they never got a close enough shot on the elk because he didn't walk up to the driver side window of the guy holding the tranquilizer gun in the cab of his truck so they let the SWAT guy do his thing. They didn't attempt to corral it or get any closer at all. It spent the whole time either eating or laying in the shade, and the video clips shown were of EVERY single time it moved. One of the camera men said they only wanted "action shots" because "who cares about an Elk laying down and eating"

The sniper shot it at about 50 yards with a .308, a bow hunter could have easily made the shot. Why didn't they get one of their big tough AR-15 guys to 'escort' someone with the tranq gun? Bull gets unruly and then shoot him if you can't get close enough, but at least attempt it. NOPE!

I'm a hunter, I'm a gun guy, but I didn't see why this had to shake out the way the police insist it had to. Then again, what other response did you expect than the typical "we did everything we could..."? Would the public accept "Yeah, we just waited until 30 minutes before rush hour, hung out for almost 8 hours watching an Elk eat, then shot it, like we planned to all along, then play the PUBLIC SAFETY card!!"?

Should I expect 30 officers the next time I see a coyote in Orleans, a rabid coon in a dumpster downtown, or Deer near the 417? 'Cause y'know PUBLIC SAFETY is at risk there too!! The issue I really have is the over the top police response to something that doesn't need that kind of attention from the cops.

In hindsight, I really wish I'd taken a photo or two of the "scene" to really let people see their tax dollars at work. I did get a couple of the Elk though!
Click to expand...

"big tough AR-15 guys" really speaks volumes about you. You are "a hunter". Well I can guarantee you that 99% of those police officers are not and have no expericence with big game.

If you are so worried about the tax payers dollars you must be in outer space over the gas plant scandal.
 
Jay said:
Should have been tranq'ed & moved... But, if history is any indication, ALL big game animals that enter the city are deemed 'a public safety threat' and shot...

IMHO, not enough effort is EVER put forth to save the animal... Case in point, I can not think of a SINGLE example of a successful tranq & move story here in the city...

And, if you go to the stats, if they were really putting an effort forth, then they should be able to say, we tranq'ed & moved 15 out of the last 20 animals that wandered into the city... Nope, the two moose last year & this elk were ALL shot...

I could walk to the spot the elk was, in about 10 mins from my place. They could not have asked for a BETTER place to keep it contained until someone could dart it...

Regards
Jay
Click to expand...

I think a lot of folks here think that it is the responsibility of the Police to deal with these animal situations when it is the MNR that have the tools to tranqualize the animal. It says there were 3 conservations vehicles there and I am assuming the Officers that drove them there had the tools to do the job but I haven't heard anyone ##### about their performance or lack there of. I guess the Cops should start carrying tranqualizer guns on their belt now for these situations but when they use them they will get critized for doing so, especial;ly when their pants fall down from alll the weight. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom