Cyber Incident Victim: British Columbia Conservation
Date:
Jul 2015
Location:
Canada
Summary
Hackers claiming affiliation with Anonymous released internal emails from a British Columbia conservation agency, revealing a dispute between a suspended officer and his supervisor over the euthanization of two black bear cubs. The officer had refused orders to kill the cubs, arguing they could be rehabilitated, leading to his suspension and subsequent public backlash, including widespread social media outrage and petitions for his reinstatement. The leaked correspondence highlighted conflicting interpretations of wildlife management policies regarding habituated bears. While the incident sparked scrutiny of the agency's decision-making, provincial authorities denied any breach of their email systems occurred.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 5 motives | 4 techniques |
| Threat Actor | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 actor | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
In July 2015, British Columbia conservation officer Bryce Casavant was suspended for refusing to euthanize two black bear cubs near Port Hardy, Vancouver Island. The cubs’ mother had been killed after repeatedly raiding a freezer containing meat and salmon. Casavant rescued the cubs from a tree and transported them to a veterinarian hospital, believing they could be rehabilitated, despite orders to destroy them. The cubs were later moved to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Casavant’s suspension triggered widespread public backlash after a CBC News story about the incident was shared by British comedian Ricky Gervais, leading to tens of thousands of signatures on an online petition demanding his reinstatement.
On July 14, 2015, hackers claiming affiliation with the collective Anonymous released redacted emails to multiple media outlets, including CBC News. The emails purported to show Casavant’s disagreement with his supervisor’s directive to kill the cubs. Casavant cited a 2009 policy stating cubs should be assessed by a veterinarian, while his supervisor asserted the policy was under revision and ordered him to transfer the cubs to another officer for euthanasia. Casavant maintained his refusal, arguing his mandate focused on public safety and that destroying rehabilitatable cubs was unnecessary. The B.C. Ministry of Environment stated its investigation found no evidence of a breach in its email systems, distancing the government from the leak. Casavant remained suspended with pay, and neither he nor his wife commented on the emails’ authenticity. The incident highlighted tensions between wildlife management policies and ethical enforcement practices.