Bottles, plastic bags and coffee cups are the type of trash typically found on the side of the highway, however, on June 9 local litter pickers found something rather unusual—a shotgun accompanied by ammunition.
Each year about 100 Parks Canada employees and municipal staff pick up trash along the park’s highways for Stewardship Day. While the annual affair always turns up startling amounts of waste and an assortment of odd items, Janet Cooper, Jasper’s environmental stewardship coordinator, said stumbling across the gun was the most bizarre thing that has ever turned up.
“It’s definitely the most scary and interesting item we’ve had,” Cooper said.
A pair collecting trash spotted the gun about a kilometre from the park’s west gate. Unsure what to do, Cooper said the RCMP was immediately notified. RCMP Sgt. Rick Bidaisee said the gun is now under investigation.
“It’s very rusted and in poor condition which leads us to believe that it wasn’t left there recently,” Bidaisee said. “It was found in foliage that was over grown and leaves had fallen on it so it’s been there for a while.”
He added that RCMP have contacted firearm experts to help with the investigation.
Given the location of the gun, Bidaisee said RCMP believe someone was trying to ditch the firearm. He also said beside the gun there was quite a bit of ammunition for that particular firearm.
“I don’t think it just fell off someone’s truck given the location, the ammunition and the position we found it in,” Bidaisee said. “However, I don’t think it was hidden. I think it was just probably thrown in that area for whatever reason.”
While Bidaisee has come across similar discoveries throughout his career he said this is a first for JNP.
“It’s a pretty unique call,” he said. “It’s not unheard of in large cities, but this is definitely not a common occurrence for a national park.”
The RCMP suggested that if you come across something you believe to be a weapon, an explosive or anything hazardous you should notify authorities immediately and not touch the item.
“Even if you have proficiency in handling a firearm, you don’t know if the firearm has been tampered with,” Bidaisee said. “Then we also have issues that if the weapon has been involved in some sort of crime then touching it could contaminate evidence.”
Kayla Byrne
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