The Cousins airstrip was closed for several hours Tuesday while Whitehorse airport officials cleaned up an illegal dump of animal feed, Whitehorse Airport manager John Rogers said Wednesday.

Airport staff were alerted to the mess when a person who was excercising a dog at the airstrip located off the Alaska Highway near the Mayo Road noticed the feed on the runway.

Rogers estimated 60 to 70 bags of dog food and animal feed were dumped on the unlit airstrip.

'We can't leave it on the airstrip,' Rogers said.

Although normally under territorial jurisdiction, Whitehorse airport staff responded to the call and helped with site clean-up.

Local feed stores were contacted by the individual who found the feed, Rogers said.

'The feed stores were very helpful.'

Donna Lilya, the owner of C&D Feeds, said she was contacted by customers.

'They were concerned that people had stolen it. One man drove all the way out to my house to let me know about it,' she said.

As a Masterfeeds distributor in Whitehorse, Lilya went out to the site to check if any of her product had been part of the illegal dump.

She used tag numbers from the bags to cross-check where and when the product was purchased.

Since the BSE scare in 2000, all animal feed is now traceable by lot number.

Masterfeed confirmed that the feed left on the airstrip was purchased from the Edmonton store in June or July of 2005 and hauled up to Whitehorse.

Lilya also said personal information was found in the coverall pockets found at the site.

'The guy will never make a good criminal,' she said with a laugh.

Mark Ritchie, the Department of Highways and Public Works' superintendent for community airports, confirmed that most of the feed has been removed and that officials will continue to monitor the airstrip. If any of the oats germinates next spring, they will work to control the vegetation at that time.

While he is very appreciative of the people who brought it to the airport officials' attention, people are urged to stay off the runway, taxiway and surrounding area for safety reasons.

'The safety of the pilots and passengers using the aerodrome is paramount. We strongly discourage people from walking their dogs on the property. We cannot allow animals on the airstrip,' Ritchie said.

The strip is used primarily on weekends and by pilots wanting to practise landings and take-offs.

Rogers has filled a report with the RCMP. Cpl. Grant Macdonald said the initial report was made on Monday evening and that the case is under investigation.