Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship advises all licensed and permitted trapping has been banned effective immediately in provincial parks that have heavy year-round use by families and pets. The department is also banning trapping within 50 metres of developed areas and designated trails including hiking, ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, ATV and horse trails, in all provincial parks. The new measures will remain in place while the department undertakes an extensive review on how to better manage trapping and improve safety for all park users.
The changes follow a second unfortunate and unusual incident in which a pet was killed by a trap in a central region provincial park. An ongoing investigation into both incidents will determine whether fines, charges or other measures need to be taken.
The full trapping ban is in place for:
Central Region
Grand Beach, Beaver Creek, Camp Morton, Hnasau Beach, Lake St. Andrew, Lake St. George, Lundar, Netley Creek, Norris Lake, Patricia Beach, Portage Spillway, Stephenfield, Watchorn, Winnipeg Beach, Yellow Quill, Duff Roblin, Lockport, Memorial, River Road, St. Norbert and Trappist Monastery provincial parks.
Western Region
Asessippi, Grand Valley, Manipogo, Margret Bruce, North Steeprock Lake, Oak Point, Overflowing River, Primrose, Rainbow Beach, Seton, Springwater, Swan River, Whitefish Lake, William Lake and Criddle Vane provincial parks.
Eastern Region
Birch Point, Marchand, Moose Lake, Pinawa, Old Pinawa, Poplar Bay, St. Malo, Wallace Lake, and Woodridge provincial parks.
Northwest Region
Bakers Narrows, Neso Lake, Twin Lakes and Wekusko Falls provincial parks.
Northeast region
Burge Lake and Zed Lake provincial parks.
Signage is being posted in those parks and natural resource officers have begun working with the Manitoba Trappers Association to notify registered trappers to remove traps.
Before the new measures announced today, trapping was already fully prohibited within Beaudry, Pembina Valley and Birds Hill provincial parks.
