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鈥攁 shotgun accompanied by ammunition.
Each year about 100 Parks Canada employees and municipal staff pick up trash along the park鈥檚 highways for Stewardship Day. While the annual affair always turns up startling amounts of waste and an assortment of odd items, Janet Cooper, Jasper鈥檚 environmental stewardship coordinator, said stumbling across the gun was the most bizarre thing that has ever turned up.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely the most scary and interesting item we鈥檝e had,鈥� Cooper said.
A pair collecting trash spotted the gun about a kilometre from the park鈥檚 west gate. Unsure what to do, Cooper said the RCMP was immediately notified. RCMP Sgt. Rick Bidaisee said the gun is now under investigation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very rusted and in poor condition which leads us to believe that it wasn鈥檛 left there recently,鈥� Bidaisee said. 鈥淚t was found in foliage that was over grown and leaves had fallen on it so it鈥檚 been there for a while.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it just fell off someone鈥檚 truck given the location, the ammunition and the position we found it in,鈥� Bidaisee said. 鈥淗owever, I don鈥檛 think it was hidden. I think it was just probably thrown in that area for whatever reason.鈥�
While Bidaisee has come across similar discoveries throughout his career he said this is a first for JNP.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty unique call,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not unheard of in large cities, but this is definitely not a common occurrence for a national park.鈥�
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.
鈥淓ven if you have proficiency in handling a firearm, you don鈥檛 know if the firearm has been tampered with,鈥� Bidaisee said. 鈥淭hen we also have issues that if the weapon has been involved in some sort of crime then touching it could contaminate evidence.鈥�
Kayla Byrne
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