Sudbury

Who dumped a pile of lobsters alongside the highway? OPP looking for answers

Ontario Provincial Police are looking for information after a large pile of lobsters were found along Highway 17 near Bonfield.

Police investigating after receiving calls about a large pile of lobsters on Highway 17

a large pile of lobsters lay beside a highway
Police estimate more than 100 lobsters were dumped along Highway 17 near Bonfield, Ont. (Submitted by Ontario Provincial Police)

Ontario Provincial Police are looking for information after a large quantity of lobsters were found dumped along Highway 17 near Bonfield.

On Tuesday, police started receiving calls about the lobsters alongside the highway. Officers found a large pile of lobsters.

"It did look like quite an abundant [number]," Const. Renee Taylor said. "Probably over 100 lobsters were there."

How they got there? Police admit they have no idea. As a result, they're asking the public to get in touch if they have any details.

"There were elastics on the lobsters," Taylor said. "It's unknown at this time if they're store bought or where they're from."

Taylor said OPP contacted the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Police have also been in touch with the Ministry of Transportation with regards to the cleanup.

She said discarding something like lobsters alongside a road can be a safety hazard.

a large pile of lobsters lay in a ditch beside the highway
Police said the lobsters have elastics on them, but where they are from is unknown. (Submitted by Ontario Provincial Police)

"They are going to decompose there. It is going to create odours and animals are going to come out of the forest … because of this dumping and littering," she said.

"So with regards to putting these lobsters there, it causes more of a risk."

Taylor said they're urging the public to contact police with any details.

"It's something we don't see often," she said. "So to ask for some information if anybody has it would be supportive."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Martha Dillman is a multimedia journalist based in Sudbury. You can reach her email at martha.dillman@cbc.ca