Yukon conservation officers are investigating after numerous large bags of moose meat were found Monday in a pond along the Whitehorse Copper Mine haul road.

This morning, Environment Yukon spokeswoman Nancy Campbell cited both the territory’s Environment Act and the Wildlife Act in confirming an investigation is underway.

It’s an offence under the Environment Act to litter and an offence under the Wildlife Act to waste meat.

City parks worker Gerry Mussgnug turned the meat over to Environment officials Tuesday after beginning work Monday to pull the bags of moose meat from the creek.

“It was like someone had cleaned out their freezer,” Mussgnug said in an interview Tuesday. “It just disgusts me.”

Mussgnug is no stranger to cleaning up litter and debris left in parks and green spaces around town.

In fact, it’s a major part of his job, but the amount of discarded meat and freezer goods in the water was something he had never come across.

As he recalled, he was in the area Monday when he ran into a friend who asked if he’d seen it.

He then went to investigate and found numerous bags – some dated 2012 – floating in the pond along with other goods, like bags of peas and such.

Mussgnug estimated he pulled out about 14 to 18 kg (30 to 40 lbs.) of meat Monday.

He returned Tuesday with a large pole to bring in the rest, eventually having to get an even longer pole to reach the bags furthest away.

By the time all was said and done late Tuesday afternoon, he estimated he had retrieved close to 45 kg (100 lbs.) of moose meat. It included a shoulder blade, leg and stew meat among other various bags left in the creek.

Environment Yukon officials confirmed the meat weighed 38.5 kg.

Mussgnug repeatedly stated his revulsion at the situation. He pointed out the environmental impacts and noted wildlife could have easily ingested the plastic if animals had torn into the bags for the meat.

Though not ideal, he said, a better choice would have been to throw the meat into the bush without the plastic.

Dumping the meat in bags into the water shows “people don’t give a damn,” he said.

He was also quick to point out the many residents in the city who are struggling to make ends meet and don’t have the luxury of having extra food in their freezer or may not be able to go hunting.

Mussgnug said he is glad someone alerted him to it so it could be cleaned up.

He turned the meat in to Environment Yukon.

While it will form part of the investigation, Mussgnug also noted his hope conservation officers may be able to use the meat for things like bait for live traps.

Campbell could not confirm by press time early this afternoon if any of the meat is usable.

Mussgnug planned to post his photos of the bagged meat to his Facebook page in the hopes someone may be able to identify the writing on the bags as the investigation continues.

In the meantime, conservation officers are asking anyone who has any information on the matter to contact its TIPP line at 1-800-611-0525 or www.env.gov.yk.ca/tipp