Search continues for missing trapper
- La Ronge | January 02, 2017
The search continues for missing Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) trapper, Eric Ratt, 58, who was last seen when he left his brother’s cabin on Zimmer Lake, northern Saskatchewan on Oct. 19, 2016.
Ratt, an experienced bushman, grew up in the area on the family trapline. Searchers have been combing the area since he was reported missing. It is not unusual for Ratt to be gone for extended periods of time.
Four dogs and eight handlers from the Canadian Search and Disaster Dogs Association from Edmonton joined the search on Friday, Dec. 31. They joined the search for three days, volunteering their time in efforts to locate Ratt.
The Ratt family and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band want to express appreciation to the Cameco Corporation; the Canadian Search and Disaster Dogs Association from Edmonton; RCMP; Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership (KMLP), LLRIB’s economic development arm; CASERA, (Civil Air Search and Rescue Association); the searchers; and our communities of Stanley Mission, La Ronge reserve and Grandmother’s Bay.
Cameco provided food, accommodation and gas for the searchers, including the dogs and handlers; KMLP provided personnel, snow machines, sleighs, camp equipment and supplies.
Zimmer Lake is approximately 7 kms from Key Lake Mine, 437 km from La Ronge, in northern Saskatchewan. The search led by LLRIB and the RCMP involves experienced trackers and two of Ratt’s brothers. The searchers continued consistently throughout extremely cold weather conditions through irregular terrain, taking only two days off for Christmas.
During an earlier aerial search, Ratt’s canoe was located on Highrock River, in the vicinity. It appears he left some of his items in the canoe indicating his intent to return. Further aerial searches conducted in the area early on in the search did not locate any additional signs of Ratt.
The Lac La Ronge RCMP ask anyone in the area to be aware of the search efforts for Eric Ratt. If anyone has any information regarding his whereabouts please contact the La Ronge RCMP Detachment at 306-425-6730 or call 911.