The Conservation Officer Service is investigating ongoing off-road motorcycle trespass and damage at two Riske Creek area ranches overlooking the Fraser River.
Sgt. Darrell Ashworth said on Tuesday, March 28 he visited the Thomson Land and Cattle Company and Blue Goose Cattle Company — formerly Moon Ranch — to inspect damage to private property and leased grazing land.
People are entering the ranches to get to the Crown land either above the Sheep Creek Bridge or from the Meldrum Creek Road.
“The grasslands are torn up with deep bike tracks, fences are tampered with to gain access and gates have been left open to the point that bulls are getting out,” Ashworth said. “There are all sorts of safety issues.”
Ashworth has a series of surveillance camera photos from the ranches.
Photos taken on Sunday, March 26, depict three riders on dirt bikes approaching a fence at the Thompson ranch.
“At the main entrance they saw the signage so they came around on an alternate route,” Ashworth said. “They snipped the fence so they could slide their bikes underneath.”
Williams Lake Off-Road Motorcycle Association president Carmine Gasparini said the Sheep Creek Bridge area is historically one of the first areas people like to go in the spring because it is close to the river.
“I stay away from Sheep Creek because it is private land and a fragile area,” Gasparani said. “It’s a bummer when things like this happen because a select few make a bad name for the rest of us.”
The association promotes treading lightly because ranches are trying to make a living, he added.
“We all have to work together to make it work.”
Under the grazing leases and off-road vehicle recreation legislation that went into effect in B.C. in 2014, anyone entering a grazing lease area without permission from the leaseholder is committing an offence under Section 4 of the Trespass Act.
Section 65 of the Land Act authorizes a leaseholder to take legal action against people who enter enclosed lease areas or undertake activities in those areas without permission of the leaseholder.
As he continues his investigation Ashworth said the COS is willing to work with ranchers and dirt bikers.
“Dirt bikers have to be aware this has been going on and they can be charged under the Off-Road Vehicle Act and the RCMP can charge them for destruction of property,” Ashworth said.