Since spring, the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service have been active in the response to the large wildfire near Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage by assisting local authorities and the Manitoba Wildfire Service to protect the communities and assist with evacuations. Conservation officers continue that work during this summer’s fire season.
In June, conservation officers from Pine Falls received a Turn in Poachers (TIP) report stating there were two individuals catching and retaining several fish and storing them in their vehicle at the Pine Falls boat launch. A conservation officer arrived conducted an inspection and found several walleye hidden throughout the vehicle. The individuals were charged for catching and retaining more fish than their daily quota. The fish were seized and were donated to the Sagkeeng local hot lunch program.
Conservation officers, alongside Manitoba Fisheries staff, have been busy throughout the summer at the eight decontamination stations and one mobile inspection unit in the coming months to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. A new mobile watercraft inspection station launched in June in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and will focus on vehicles transporting watercraft into and out of Manitoba near the Manitoba-Ontario border on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Conservation officers also work closely with communities to educate residents and build relationships, including:
- attending a touch-a-truck fundraiser in northern Manitoba with a provincial conservation truck and bear trap to talk about bear safety and the role of conservation officers;
- participating in a community cleanup in a wildlife management area in Shilo, which collected and safely disposed of more than 1,400 kilograms of garbage; and
- cleaning up and safely disposing of four truckloads of litter from North Jonas Road in Thompson.
Conservation officers appreciate public support in efforts to reduce illegal activities that harm wildlife or the environment. Anyone with information on illegal hunting activities is encouraged to contact a local conservation office or the TIP hotline at 1-800-782-0076. For more information, visit gov.mb.ca.
