Spotlight

<< Back

"From prickly pear to polar bear"

Worlds apart: in the distance and in the temperature, Ontario's vast territory is a lesson in contrasts for federal Game Officers that can involve aerial patrols in the north in spring and foot patrols in the south in summer. Click to enlarge the aerial photo of Hudson Bay coastal ridges or the Game Officer patrolling Long Point National Wildlife Area.

“I like to say that our patrol area takes us from ‘prickly pear (cactus) to polar bear’ because that pretty much summarizes the range of territory we cover in the province.” Doug Sweiger is a Game Officer with the Wildlife Enforcement Division of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).

The past year saw Sweiger hit all points of the compass in Ontario and then some, from St. Clair National Wildlife Area (NWA) east to the Cornwall area, and Long Point NWA north to First Nations communities on Hudson Bay.

Wildlife legislation enforced by federal Game Officers includes the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Migratory Birds Regulations, the Migratory Birds Sanctuary Regulations, the Canada Wildlife Act, the Wildlife Area Regulations, the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations, and most recently, the Species at Risk Act.

Similar look, different officers: federal Game Officers (left) and provincial Conservation Officers often work together on wildlife-related initiatives. Click to enlarge.

Federal Game Officers patrol the province to protect wild animals and plants from illegal exploitation and trade by conducting compliance inspections and investigations. Game Officers with CWS and provincial Conservation Officers with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) are cross-appointed, meaning they can enforce both federal and provincial wildlife legislation. This relationship often extends to joint agency operations and resource sharing.

Federal Game Officer Doug Sweiger describes his job to a group of children during a school presentation in Kasechewan. Click to enlarge.

In February, Sweiger spent a week in coastal Cree communities on Hudson Bay and James Bay. Hunters were informed of the regulations and environmental benefits of non-toxic (non-lead) shot, while school children received presentations from a number of career professionals, including Sweiger. Communities visited included Moosonee, Kasechewan, Attawapiskat, Peawanuck and Fort Severn, the latter being the most northerly community in Ontario.

“Visiting the schools acts as a kind of ‘career day’ for the kids,” said Sweiger. “In this instance they heard from aircraft pilots, a biologist and two provincial Conservation Officers, both Cree, one of whom is also a dog handler. It’s a chance for kids to learn about these jobs, because they usually don't get this kind of opportunity. If they hear something that interests them, perhaps one day they’ll pursue that career and end up working right in their own community.”

Terrain along the Hudson Bay and James Bay coasts can be forbidding, making patrol by helicopter highly effective. Click to enlarge.

In May, Sweiger returned to northern Ontario to conduct a migratory bird hunting enforcement patrol on the James Bay and Hudson Bay coasts from Moosonee to Peawanuk. The Hannah Bay and Moose River Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBS) were visited, as well as the majority of the Cree goose hunting camps between these two communities. This was a joint CWS-OMNR operation involving reconnaissance by helicopter.

Logistics dictate that the northern sanctuaries are less frequently patrolled. “I was gratified to report that at the time we were there, there was no observed evidence of hunting activity in the Hannah Bay or Moose River sanctuaries,” said Sweiger.

Coastal hunting camps often are a mix of old and new traditions. Click to enlarge.

During this patrol it was estimated that enforcement contact was made with hunting parties at approximately 75 percent of the active hunting camps for a total of 288 enforcement contacts. For hunter reference, officers distributed CWS brochures, Non-toxic Shot and Quick Reference for Migratory Bird Hunters in Ontario.

“The primary benchmark we use for the success of our work is simply the degree of compliance of the public with legislation,” explained Sweiger. “If we have no conservation concerns with the waterfowl harvest within season and limits, hunting methods and equipment deployed, and no observable impact on species at risk, then that pretty much covers all the bases.”

Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle at Long Point NWA. Click to enlarge.

Early July saw Sweiger and another Game Officer conducting reconnaissance at Long Point NWA on Lake Erie. The largest NWA in Ontario, Long Point is an environmentally and historically significant peninsula of rolling sand dunes, Carolinian forest and extensive wetlands – terrain which can be challenging to patrol. The NWA is known for attracting large numbers of migrating waterfowl, and is also home to several species at risk including the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle. The officers gained familiarity with the local geography and natural resources of the NWA, and monitored visitor use.

The past year also saw Sweiger patrol other NWAs, including Big Creek and Hahn Marsh Unit, St. Clair and the Bear Creek Unit, and Wellers Bay near Trenton. Other MBSs patrolled included the Upper Canada sanctuary on the St. Lawrence River, Eleanor Island on Lake Muskoka, St. Joseph Island near Sault Ste. Marie and Chantry Island on Lake Huron near Southampton.

Great Egrets and several Cormorants viewed from the lighthouse at Chantry Island MBS. Click to enlarge.

The sanctuary at St. Joseph Island – the most westerly island in the Manitoulin chain – features such bird species as Bald Eagles, Red-shouldered Hawks and Olive-sided Flycatchers. Chantry Island is known as a major Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull rookery. The island also hosts nesting Great Blue Herons, Black-Crowned Night Herons and Great Egrets.

While in the Sault Ste. Marie area, Sweiger conducted compliance inspections at a number of taxidermy and aviculture operations.

“We want to make sure that businesses and individuals holding CWS permits are adhering to permit conditions, which include maintaining detailed record keeping and/or annual reporting requirements to CWS,” he noted.

American White Pelicans – a species many people wouldn't expect to see in Northern Ontario – nest on Lake of the Woods. Click to enlarge.

In late October, Sweiger visited Lake of the Woods near Kenora in another CWS-OMNR joint enforcement initiative targeting waterfowl hunters and anglers. Over the three-day patrol, four officers made over 100 enforcement contacts, with eight offence notices issued. Five anglers were charged with keeping more than their quota of Walleye, one was charged with bringing live baitfish from the U.S. while one non-resident hunter was using lead (toxic) shot. The eighth person, a local guide, was in possession of harvested ducks which did not meet the minimum identification requirement of having at least one fully feathered wing attached.

What’s on the agenda for 2005?

“Some of the same locales will receive follow-up patrols and other areas will receive attention from Wildlife Enforcement officers as identified by intelligence information or public complaint,” said Sweiger.

<< Back