Enforcement Division - Updates
| Nov 23, 2012: | Six Pubnico Men Charged with Numerous Migratory Bird Offences |
| On October 22, 2012, Conservation Officers from the Department of Natural Resources along with Fishery Officers from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans conducted a joint operation in the area of Frog Pond, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. The aim of this joint operation was to target illegal migratory bird hunting. Six men from Pubnico, Nova Scotia were charged and convicted of twelve violations totaling over $4600.00 in fines. In addition, all men lost their hunting privileges for one year. Charges included Hunting Migratory Birds over Bait, Hunting without a valid 2012 Migratory Bird licence, Hunting Migratory Birds with lead shot and failing to wear life jackets. The officers wish to thank the public for their help in bringing this information forward. If you have information regarding illegal hunting, you are encouraged to call 1-800-565-2224 and report the illegal activity. All information is kept strictly confidential. | |
| Sep 10, 2012: | Three Men Receive Over $2100 in Fines for Exceeding their Bag Limit of Trout in Two Separate Events |
|
On July 26, 2012, in the area of Second Rocky Lake in the Liscomb Game Sanctuary, conservation officers encountered two men in possession of 22 speckled trout. Weldon Ferguson and Kyle Ferguson of Pictou County were both charged with exceeding the bag limit for trout. In addition to the fish, their equipment was also seized. On Sept. 05, 2012, both men were convicted in Antigonish Provincial Court each receiving a fine of $800.
Daniel McGinn of Liscomb, Guysborough County, was charged on August 8, 2012, with exceeding his bag limit of trout. Officers seized seven trout and fishing equipment. On August 10, 2012, Mr. McGinn pled guilty to the charge and paid a fine of $512. The bag limit for trout is five per person. | |
| Aug 31, 2012: | Public Help leads to a Successful Nesting Season for the Piping Plover in Eastern Nova Scotia |
| Piping Plovers in Eastern Nova Scotia have had a successful nesting season, thanks to the help received from Conservation Officers, local citizens, and local business owners. Natural Resources staff have been working with Birds Studies Canada field personnel to ensure these birds nest successfully. This year's data indicates 1.77 fledglings per monitored pair on Northern Nova Scotia beaches, which is higher than we expected. One great success is in the Dingwall area of Victoria County, where we had 7 nesting pairs this season. Conservation Officers have noted a marked improvement in compliance on the beaches here. Less vehicle traffic, more pet owners leashing their dogs, and local businesses are promoting stewardship and education initiatives. A major factor in the higher nesting success is the help received from the citizens of that area. Migrating birds from northern parts of Canada will be using our beaches as a stopover to fuel up on their trek south, so it is still very important to be cautious in regard to beach activities. Persons who see vehicles or unleashed pets on protected beaches can report these violations to Natural Resources by calling 1-800-565-2224 or by emailing reportapoacher@gov.ns.ca | |
| Aug 27, 2012: | Law Enforcement Torch Run Raises over $ 4000.00 |
| On Sunday, August 19th, 2012, a Law Enforcement Torch Run was held in Sydney as part of the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs national conference. The Special Olympics, which benefits from all proceeds raised, has been a charity of law enforcement since 1981. The torch run raised $4300.00 for the charity. Conservation Officers Steve MacKinnon, Ally Dean, Ewen MacIntyre and Blowers Stubbert took part in the run, along with officers from the following agencies: Cape Breton Regional Police, Sheriffs, Corrections, RCMP, Military Police, Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Vehicle Compliance. | |
| Aug 20, 2012: | Off-Highway Vehicle Operator Fails to Stop and Gets a Fine In Return |
| On September 24, 2011 Nicholas McLellan, 23, of Alton was charged with failing to stop his off-highway vehicle when directed to do so by a conservation officer. Officers working in the Kemptown area last fall observed a 4 wheel off-highway vehicle parked alongside a dirt road in the area. Upon stopping to ensure compliance of registration and insurance, the operator of the off-highway vehicle fled. Officers followed the off-highway vehicle tracks to a nearby camp where a quick search of the area located the vehicle. Mr. McLellan appeared in Provincial Court this past Thursday, August 16 and was sentenced to pay a fine of $685.00. | |
| Aug 16, 2012: | Surveillance Camera Used To Collect Evidence of Illegal Dumping On Crown Land in Guysborough County |
| The recent placement of a surveillance camera on an illegal garbage dump has yielded some positive results. Conservation officers in Guysborough County have collected enough evidence over the past month to charge two area residents for allegedly dumping garbage on Crown land. The two separate incidents were caught on camera identifying those allegedly involved. An increased number of complaints resulted in the placement of the camera. Officers wish to inform the public that dumping on Crown land can result in fines up to $2000.00. | |
| Aug 16, 2012: | Annapolis County Man Convicted of Having a Loaded Firearm on His All-Terrain Vehicle |
|
This past December, conservation officers from Annapolis County charged a 39-year-old male from the Bear River area with multiple Wildlife Act and Off-highway Vehicle Act offences. A recent court appearance by the accused has resulted in the following convictions:
Wildlife Act
Off-Highway Vehicles Act
The individual has lost his hunting privileges for five years, and been ordered to pay a total of $1942.00 in fines and over $500.00 in towing and storage fees for his all-terrain vehicle.
| |
| Aug 16, 2012: | 23-Year-Old Dartmouth Man Charged With Impaired Operation of an ATV |
| On Friday August 4, 2012 a 23-year-old Dartmouth man was observed operating his all-terrain vehicle in the area of Alps Road, Porters Lake, Halifax County. Upon carrying out a compliance check, conservation officers noticed signs of impairment. The individual was subsequently charged with impaired operation of an off-highway vehicle, operating his all-terrain vehicle without insurance and failing to display his licence plate. Several other warnings were issued and his all-terrain vehicle was seized. | |
| Aug 13, 2012: | Portapique Man Charged for Illegal Possession of a Firearm |
| On August 10, 2012 conservation officers working in the Portapique area of Colchester County observed a 47-year-old male from the local area operating his all-terrain vehicle on a public highway. Upon stopping the individual it was found that he was in possession of a firearm and showed signs of impairment. The individual was arrested without incident and charged for illegal possession of a firearm in a wildlife habitat, operation of an off-highway vehicle on a public highway and impaired operation of an off-highway vehicle. His all-terrain vehicle and hunting equipment were seized. | |
| May 23, 2012: | Conservation Officers lend a helping hand |
| Colchester Conservation Officers assisted an elderly male driver after his vehicle was disabled in the woods Tuesday morning. The 80-year old drive was visiting a favourite fishing spot, when his vehicle got stuck in a mud hole. The vehicle was so submerged that the driver was unable to exit the vehicle to get help. Without the assistance of the officers, who arrived on the scene during a routine patrol, it is unknown how long the driver would have had to wait for help. | |
| May 15, 2012: | Off-highway Vehicle Training Do you require it? |
|
Did you know that almost every off-highway vehicle operator is required to have safety training?
To meet the requirements of the mandatory off-highway vehicle safety training, you must:
Depending on your age, your off-highway vehicle safety training requirements can differ: Anyone under 16 years of age is required to be supervised by their parent or guardian who has also completed the same off-highway vehicle safety training appropriate for the off-highway vehicle being operated.
• Persons 26 years of age and older
You are exempt from this requirement if all three conditions below are met:
If your common-law spouse, married spouse or registered domestic partner qualifies for the exemptions listed above, and you were 19 years old before April 1, 2006, you are also exempt.
Under the following circumstances, the exemptions listed above do not apply and the safety training must be completed:
* Note: In some cases, Service Nova Scotia has been able to provide proof of registration as required above. This is subject to an administration fee. | |
| May 15, 2012: | Great Compliance - Weekend Project |
| 90+ recreational fishers were checked for compliance of various federal and provincial laws in a planned event organized by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Nova Scotia Conservation Officers and Federal Fisheries Officers conducted this joint forces operation on the weekend of May 12-13, 2012. Patrols were completed by foot, ATV, and vehicles along with covert surveillance of a few fishing "hot spots" in Lunenburg, Kings and Halifax Counties. Officers encountered several small violations including charging one individual for fishing with two rods. Overall, the weekend's event showed great compliance from resource users. | |
| Apr 13, 2012: | Off-highway Vehicle Patrols Increased |
|
Every year during the spring thaw, the Beechville Lakeside Timberlea (BLT) multi-use trail is closed to off-highway vehicle use to prevent damage to the trail. This year the department has seen an increase in the number of complaints regarding this type of activity on the trail.
In response, over the past month, Conservation Officers have stepped up the number of patrols in the area. Some results from the increased patrols include:
As of today, the trail has re-opened allowing all-terrain vehicle use. | |
