A gruesome instance of animal cruelty has taken place at McArthur Island Park in Kamloops.
Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of the Kamloops RCMP confirmed that, just before 8 a.m. on Friday, July 10, frontline officers were called to a playground on McArthur Island for a report of a mutilated marmot.
Shoihet said it was the only marmot-mutilation incident reported to the RCMP. She also noted the Kamloops detachment would be working with the BC SPCA for a potential follow-up investigation. The police file number is 2026-22338.
As of Wednesday, July 15, the BC SPCA said its Animal Protection Officers in Kamloops were not, at that point, working on the case.
On Saturday, July 11, the Kamloops nature publication, Field Light Magazine, posted on its Facebook page about the animal cruelty.
“Lately, some marmots have been found skinned and mutilated and left at the children’s play area. This is not normal. It is not an accident. It is a serious act of cruelty,” the magazine said. “A person who does this is showing they do not care about the animals, or the community around them.”
Although the post implies multiple mutilated marmots had been discovered, Black Press Media could only confirm one instance on July 10.
In their public statement, Field Light Magazine spoke about McArthur Island, saying it’s a place where people, families and wildlife all share the same space.
“Many of us walk there, play sports there, and enjoy the quiet parts of the island,” it said. “The marmots that live there are part of that space too.”
The magazine’s post explains that marmots help keep the area healthy. They warn each other of danger and are one of the first animals kids notice when they explore the island. It added that when someone harms them, it damages the trust people have in the shared space.
“We are asking everyone in Kamloops to watch for any strange or harmful behaviour on the island. If you see someone hurting wildlife, report it right away. We also ask the City of Kamloops to increase patrols and take these incidents seriously,” the magazine said.
The City of Kamloops said it was aware of the case and has been in communication with the RCMP, but would not comment any further due to the investigation.
“McArthur Island belongs to all of us,” Field Light Magazine said. “The animals that live there deserve safety. Cruelty toward wildlife is a warning sign, and we cannot ignore it. Speaking up now protects the island, the animals, and the community.”
The Ministry of Environment and Parks has confirmed that the BC Conservation Officer Service has not received any reports of the incident and is not investigating.