Via the Sun we learn that…

Police are appealing to the public for information on how a loaded, military-issued rocket launcher ended up in a bushed area off the Malahat Highway on Vancouver Island.

According to a news release issued Thursday night, a tree-clearing contractor discovered the rocket launcher at around 3:30 p.m. in an area of dense bush beside Highway One, about 100 metres north of McCurdry Drive in Shawnigan Lake on southern Vancouver Island.

Officers from the Shawnigan Lake RCMP detachment secured the area and one officer, a Canadian Forces veteran who had served two tours in Afghanistan, recognized the weapon to be an M72 self-propelled rocket launcher. It appeared to be loaded with one live rocket grenade in the tube.

The Canadian Forces Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit was called and took custody of the weapon. It appeared to have been there for at least six months, police said.

Sleep tight, kiddies.