The search for missing Merritt cowboy Ben Tyner is resuming today, with the warmer weather now with us.

Tyner was reported missing at the end of January, with police saying three weeks ago his disappearance was suspicious.

Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says they’ll begin at the Nicola Ranch where Ben Tyner worked, and retrace their steps.

“In January when the snow was covered, you know you’re not going to be able to see everything,” she said. “You know you’re hopeful at that point that Mr. Tyner was going to be found alive and that this wouldn’t be a recovery.”

“That being said, you never know, stranger things have happened, so we have to hold out that little bit of hope.”

She noted the scope of the search hasn’t changed much, but ground search crews are being assisted by the RCMP police dog service and air support teams.

“If time is on our side, we may find him today,” added Sgt. Shoihet. “We may end the search there, but it’s going to take as long as it’s going to take until investigators are convinced or they are certain that we haven’t missed any opportunities.”

“Until we have exhausted all of those opportunities, that’s what’s going to occur.”

She’s asking people with dash cam footage in the Merritt area from January 26 to submit the video to the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit so police can continue to investigate.

An exhaustive search for Ben Tyner in January and February was suspended after a week, after no new leads were found.

Tyner was last seen on Saturday, January 26th and his riderless horse was found the following Monday on a logging road northwest of Merritt.