Lodge Owner Fined $7,000 for Hunting Deer Out-of-Season and Lying to Conservation Officer
THUNDER BAY, ON - September 21, 2009 - A Nestor Falls lodge owner and guide must pay $7,000 for offences related to illegal deer hunting.
Dean Roy, an owner and operator of Meline’s Lodge and Guide Service, pleaded guilty under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and was fined a total of $6,000 for two counts of unlawfully hunting deer during closed season and $1,000 for making a false statement to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer.
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Ontario Stewardship Rangers - Fort Frances
FORT FRANCES, ON - August 20, 2009 - The Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario 
Stewardship Ranger Program is an eight-week summer job program that offers 17-year-olds an opportunity to focus on community-based environmental projects working in partnership with stewardship councils, conservation authorities, landowners, local industry, local municipalities and non-government organizations. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - August 20, 2009 - The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is 
celebrating the unveiling of new interpretive panels at Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area with an Open House.
The seven panels have been in the works for over two years. They explain the role of wetlands, the importance of water and water conservation. The new panels, which are located in the pavilion at Mission Island Marsh, replace seven displays which had been at the Marsh since 1996. read more...>
Don't Use Illegal Baitfish Traps Or Sell Baitfish Without A Licence
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 28, 2009 - People who put illegal baitfish traps in local ponds and 
creeks or sell baitfish without a licence are committing offences and risk being charged, according to Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers from Dryden District.
Conservation officers have found a number of illegal baitfish traps this summer. Baitfish traps must be clearly labelled with the name of the user and must not exceed the maximum permitted size. read more...>
Illegal Bear Guiding Results in Two-Year Ban and Fine
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 14, 2009 - A Red Lake District tourist lodge operator’s illegal bear guiding practices has resulted in a two-year ban on operating a bear management area and a $14,000 fine.
Jody Stevens of Sargeant, Minnesota, was convicted of 11 counts under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of providing bear hunting services without a licence in 2007 and 2008. He was fined $7,000 for each year, his bear management agreement licence has been revoked and he cannot participate in any aspect of operating a bear management area for two years. read more...>
MNR Charges Across the Northwest Region
THUNDER BAY, ON ------ July 13, 2009 --- Clint Perkins of Winnipeg was convicted of unauthorized use of Crown land and fined $5,000. Perkins was also fined $1,500 for providing a false statement to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer. read more.....>
$7,500 IN ILLEGAL DEER HUNTING FINES
THUNDER BAY, ON ------ July 8, 2009 ------- Two Ontario hunters have been fined a total of $7,500 for offences related to illegal deer hunting.
Michael Wendel, of Opasatika, and Michel Isabelle, of North Bay, were charged under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. read more.......>
Deer Tag Draw Deadline Extended To July 6
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 30, 2009 - The deadline for hunters to apply for the antlerless deer validation tag draw has been extended to Monday, July 6, from Tuesday, June 30, due to high demand. read more...>
WALLEYE OVER-POSSESSION & ANGLING IN FISH SANCTUARY
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 30, 2009 - Two northwestern Ontario anglers must pay $1,200 each for possessing an over limit of walleyes. Robert Mitchell, of Longlac, and Donald Burgess, of Thunder Bay, were charged under Ontario fishing regulations.
A Red Lake area man has been fined $1,750 for angling in a fish sanctuary and lying to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer. David Betker, of Cochenour, was charged under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and fined $1,250 for angling during closed time in the Chukuni River Fish Sanctuary, in the Hoyles Bay area of Red Lake. Betker was also fined $500 for providing a false statement to a conservation officer regarding fish he caught and kept. read more...>
MOOSE HUNTERS FINED $9,250 IN TWO ILLEGAL HUNTING INCIDENTS
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 23, 2009 - Two Thunder Bay moose hunters have been convicted of offences under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act for two separate incidents involving illegal moose hunting. Shane Earley, was fined $1,500 for unlawfully hunting a bull moose out of season for gun hunting; $2,500 for using ammunition prohibited for big game hunting; $2,500 for careless hunting with a firearm; $750 for transporting illegally killed wildlife and $500 for making a false statement to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer. Earley is not allowed to hunt in Ontario for five years. Michael Parolari, was fined a total of $1,500 for two counts of possessing illegally killed wildlife. read more...>
Deadline Approaching For Antlerless Deer Tag Draw
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 17, 2009 - The deadline for hunters to apply for the antlerless deer validation tag draw is fast approaching. This year, the deadline has been moved forward a month, to June 30.
Seasons are starting earlier in many areas, so the draw deadline was moved up to help ensure that hunters receive their tags before the season opens. read more...>
FISHING LICENCE ISSUER FINED FOR NOT REMITTING MONEY
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 17, 2009 - Daisy Hoppe
Gernat did not reconcile his account for 2007 by the deadline and, as of his court date, still owed the Crown $7,400 he had collected from selling fishing licences. Gernat, a licence issuer for the ministry for several years, no longer issues fishing licences. read more...>
FISHING GUIDE MUST PAY $7,000 FOR CAMPFIRE
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 11, 2009 - A fishing resort guide who failed to put out his campfire must pay $7,000. Ted McLeod, of Atikokan, was charged under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and fined $1,000 for failing to extinguish a fire. McLeod must also pay $6,000 to the Ministry of Natural Resources to help cover the cost of putting out the fire. read more...>
IMPROVEMENTS RESULT IN UNEXPECTED DELAYS
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 2, 2009 - SAULT STE. MARIE – Work to replace all eight of the gate anchors on the recreational lock at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada is taking longer than originally expected. Parks Canada and its contractors are currently discussing a revised schedule for the repairs, with the intention of opening the lock to operations as quickly as possible. read more...>
Stocking Benefits Anglers and Fish Populations
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 2, 2009 - Fish stocking is underway in waters from the Manitoba 
border to Manitouwadge, and from Lake Superior to Red Lake. The Ministry of Natural Resources stocks fish each year to protect natural fish populations and support year-round fishing opportunities for residents and visitors. read more...>
Weekend Revellers Destroy Conservation Area Exhibit
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 21, 2009 - The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is .JPG)
looking for help from the public in determining who destroyed several educational interpretive displays at one of its Conservation Areas over the weekend.
Sometime during the late night hours of Saturday, May 16, 2009 vandals tore down five "Fibrelite" panels from the open air pavilion walls at Cascades Conservation Area on Balsam Street. The culprits then tossed the panels into a bonfire adjacent to the pavilion. The fire was intense enough to cause some heat damage to a portion of the pavilion roof. A metal garbage can was also destroyed. A number of empty beer bottles at the scene suggests several individuals participated in the criminal activity. read more...>
$1,500 FINE FOR SHOOTING WRONG MOOSE
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 30, 2009 - An Ontario hunter has been fined $1,500 for unlawfully shooting a cow moose. Harvey Thain, 49, of Ear Falls pleaded guilty to shooting a cow moose when he was licensed to only hunt a calf moose. He was charged under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and is prohibited from hunting in Ontario for one year. The moose was forfeited to the Crown and subsequently donated to the Red Lake Homeless Shelter. read more...>
FINED FOR LITTERING ON CONSERVATION RESERVE
THUNDER BAY, ON - April16, 2009 - A Sioux Narrows, Ontario, man has been charged for 
failing to clean up his hunt camp site on a conservation reserve. Jess Swenson, 27, was fined $600 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act for failing to restore a conservation reserve site to its original condition. He was also ordered to remove the material he left behind at his deer hunt camp site at Calendar Island in the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve. read more...>
2009 HUNTING REGULATIONS SUMMARY NOW AVAILABLE
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 15, 2009 - Ontario’s 2009-10 Hunting Regulations Summary is now available online.
Important dates to remember this year are:
• Monday, April 27 – the start of wild turkey hunting season.
• Tuesday, June 30 – the deadline for applying to the Antlerless Deer Draw. This is a month earlier than in the past and will help ensure that hunters receive their deer validation tags sooner. read more...>
ONTARIO SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON MOOSE HUNTING PROGRAM
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 14, 2009 - Members of the public are invited to attend an open house in Kenora to comment on Ontario's moose tag draw system.
The draw allocates moose tags to resident hunters. It is designed to give the greatest number of hunters an opportunity to hunt or share an adult moose while maintaining sustainable moose populations. Through the open houses, the Ontario government is encouraging people to discuss how the draw system can be improved. Biologists will be on hand to lead discussions and answer questions. read more...>
$7,000 IN FINES FOR HUNTING DEER ON PRIVATE PROPERT
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 3, 2009 - Two Hearst hunters have been fined a total of $7,000 for trespassing and hunting deer on private land. Ricky Morrissette, 48, and Gerald Arguin, 60, have both been convicted of trespassing for the purpose of hunting and fined $1,500 and $2,500 respectively. Both men were also each fined $1,000 for possession of illegally-killed wildlife and $500 for failing to wear hunter orange. read more...>
HELPING ONTARIO BE BEAR WISE
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 3, 2009 - Callers to Ontario’s toll-free Bear Wise information and reporting line will now connect directly with a live operator during bear season. Based on the four cornerstones of reporting, response, prevention, and education and awareness, Bear Wise teaches people about black bears and the known and preventable causes of human-bear conflicts. The program teaches people how to not attract bears to their property and keep bears wild. read more...>
PROVINCE SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON FISHERIES REGULATIONS
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 30, 2009 - The Ontario government wants to hear from the public about proposed changes to rules related to catch limits and seasons for the area north of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay from Lake Superior to the Sturgeon River, and including Manitoulin Island. read more...>
ONTARIO SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON MOOSE HUNTING PROGRAM
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 27, 2009 - Members of the public are invited to attend an open 
house in Nipigon to comment on Ontario's moose tag draw system.
The draw allocates moose tags to resident hunters. It is designed to give the greatest number of hunters an opportunity to hunt or share an adult moose while maintaining sustainable moose populations. Through the open houses, the Ontario government is encouraging people to discuss how the draw system can be improved. Biologists will be on hand to lead discussions and answer questions. read more...>
HUNTING PARTY FINED FOR LITTERING CAMPSITE ON CONSERVATION RESERVE
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 19, 2009 - Three Ontario hunters have been fined a total of $1,800 for leaving building materials and litter at their moose hunt camp in a conservation reserve. Kevin Derbyshire, 42, of Leamington, Leslie Arnew, 74, of Comber, and James Arnew, 72, of Wheatley, were each fined $600 for leaving garbage at a campsite in the Lac Seul Islands Conservation Reserve, east of Ear Falls. read more...>
$10,250 IN FINES FOR LEAVING MOOSE TO SUFFER AND COVER UP
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 19, 2009 - Five northwestern Ontario residents have been convicted for various hunting violations involving the illegal killing, tagging and possession of a cow moose. Three Ear Falls residents, Kurt Krause, 74, Richard Krause, 31, Greg Adams, 35, and two Perrault Falls residents, Jeremy Reynolds, 37, and Rikki Reynolds, 39, were all convicted after a lengthy investigation by Red Lake conservation officers and the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Sault Ste. Marie. read more...>
FAMILY FACES $6,400 IN FINES FOR ILLEGAL HUNTING
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 17, 2009 - Three Mine Centre residents have been ordered to pay fines totalling $6,400 following two incidents of illegal hunting. Byron Burkholder, 25, and Ewan Burkholder, 22, were each fined $700 for illegally hunting a cow moose. The moose was killed in the Atikokan area on October 18, 2008. Both men have had their hunting licences suspended for one year and must complete a hunter safety course before their licences will be returned. read more...>
$3,000 IN FINES FOR HUNTING MOOSE FROM A MOTOR BOAT
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 17, 2009 - Two Ontario hunters have been fined a total of $3,000 for hunting moose from their motor boat. Gerald Woolsey, 64, of Ear Falls, and Tyson Woolsey, 31, of Kenora, were each fined $1,500 for shooting a bull moose from a motor boat. Both are prohibited from hunting in Ontario for one year. read more...>
KILLING A DEER WITH A POWER BOAT
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 17, 2009 - A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 10 days in jail, fined $11,000 and suspended from hunting in Ontario for seven years for illegal deer hunting involving a power boat. Philip Borofka, 56, of Marshfield, Wisconsin, has been sentenced under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to serve 10 days in jail and pay fines of $6,000 for mortally wounding a deer with a power boat, $1,500 for shooting a deer from a power boat and $3,500 for shooting a swimming deer. Borofka has also been suspended from hunting in Ontario for seven years. The boat, owned by a third party, and Borofka’s firearm will be returned once his fines are paid. read more...>
FINES FOR ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE LIVE BAIT INTO ONTARIO
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 11, 2009 - Three United States residents have been fined after attempting to smuggle live bait into Ontario through the Canada Customs Entry Station on Sand Point Lake, Rainy River District. read more...>
McGuinty Government Promotes Fishing As Fun Family Day Activity
THUNDER BAY, ON - February 12, 2009 - Safety on and around Ontario’s lakes and rivers should be everyone’s main priority when they’re outdoors this Family Day Weekend. To encourage people to get outside and try fishing, Ontario residents can fish without purchasing a licence in most public waters across the province from February 14 to 16. During this long weekend, anglers must follow the conservation licence limits set out in the 2008-2009 Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. read more...>
$12,780 IN FINES FOR ILLEGAL MOOSE HUNT
OVER LIMIT OF WALLEYE COSTS $6,380 AND FOUR-YEAR SUSPENSION
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 23, 2009 - A Toronto area man has been fined $6,380 and given a four-year fishing suspension for having 34 walleye over the legal limit. Paul Collins, 53, pleaded guilty and was fined $150 for each of the 34 walleye he possessed over the legal limit of four. He was also ordered to pay court costs of $1,280. read more...>
$1,000 FINE FOR SHOOTING A WOLF WITHOUT A LICENCE
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 21, 2009 - A North Carolina man has been fined $1000 for shooting a wolf without a licence and abandoning it. Kevin Gibson, 39, of Canton, North Carolina was fined $500 shooting a wolf without a licence and $500 for abandoning the wolf’s pelt after pleading guilty under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. His firearm will be returned when his fines are paid. read more...>
FINE FOR CARELESS HUNTING
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 13, 2009 - A Kenora man has been fined $2,350 for charges related to careless hunting. Robert Arnburg, 38, was convicted of careless hunting, and having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. He was assessed a $2,350 fine, prohibited from hunting for one year and he must successfully complete the Hunter Education course. The deer was forfeited to the Crown and the rifle will be returned once the fines are paid. read more...>
$1,000 FINE FOR TRESPASSING TO HUNT
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 13, 2009 - A resident of Burlington Vermont has been fined $1,000 for charges related to trespassing while hunting. Paul Boileau, 63, was convicted of trespassing for the purpose of hunting, was assessed a $1,000 fine, and forfeited a white-tailed deer to the Crown. His rifle was also seized but will be returned once his fine has been paid. read more...>
$4,000 FINE FOR CARELESS HUNTING
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 13, 2009 - A Geraldton man has been fined $4,000 for unsafe hunting. Harry Head, 67, pleaded guilty and was convicted under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. read more...>
BIG fine for harvesting Crown timber without a licence
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 13, 2009 - A Thunder Bay logging company has been fined $10,689.31 for harvesting Crown timber without a licence. John Buchanan and Sons Ltd. pleaded guilty to two offences under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The company also agreed to pay $6,638.29 in Crown charges, including stumpage and forest renewal fees. read more...>
$3,000 FINE FOR SHOOTING A COW MOOSE IN WRONG WILDLIFE MGNT UNIT
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 13, 2009 - A resident of Kemble, Ontario, has been fined for unlawfully hunting a cow moose. James Bruce McManus, 55, was fined $3,000 and the moose was forfeited to the Crown. read more...>
Marmion Lake Re-opens For Walleye
ATIKOKAN, THUNDER BAY, ON -- January 1, 2009 --The Marmion Lake located in the Atikokan area, is now open for walleye fishing. It was closed year-round for walleye angling, as prescribed in the 2008-2009 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. The re-opening of the lake to walleye fishing will enhance opportunities for anglers and have a positive impact on the local tourism industry. read more.....>
ANGLERS ENCOURAGED TO STAY SAFE ON THE ICE
THUNDER BAY, ON - December 17, 2008 - The Ministry of Natural Resources is reminding anglers to check ice conditions before heading out to do some ice fishing this season. read more...>
FIRING AT DEER DECOY FROM BOAT COSTS TWO MEN $4,000
THUNDER BAY, ON - December 3, 2008 - Two Minnesota men have each been fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to unlawfully discharging a firearm from a motorboat.
Lee Becker, 64, and Douglas Freitag, 58, both from Angle Inlet, Minnesota, have also been banned from hunting in Ontario for a year. Their two firearms will be returned when the fines are paid. read more...>
DEALING WITH PROBLEM WILDLIFE
THUNDER BAY, ON - November 28, 2008 - Wildlife is an important part of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage. Wildlife is often a welcome addition to a landowner’s property, but there are circumstances under which some wildlife can become a problem. read more...>
BAT HIBERNATION AND HIBERNACULA
THUNDER BAY, ON - November 28, 2008 - FACT SHEET, Ministry of Natural Resources
COMMON BATS FOUND IN ONTARIO
• The most common bats found in Ontario are the Little Brown Bat and the Big Brown Bat. The less common species are the Eastern Pipistrelle, Silver-haired Bat, Hoary Bat, Eastern Red Bat, Eastern Small-footed Bat, and Northern Long-eared Bat. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON, --- November 12, 2008 -- Wilson’s Food was convicted of two counts of illegally selling sausages that contained meat from white-tailed deer and moose. Conservation officers and inspectors from the Thunder Bay District Health Unit executed a search warrant and confiscated about 30 kilograms of sausages. read more.....>
FINED $2,000 FOR ACCESSING LAKE AND LEAVING BOATS
THUNDER BAY, ON - November 4, 2008 - A North Bay man has been fined $2,000 for accessing a restricted lake and illegally leaving boats on the lake.
Dave Racicot, who did not attend his trial, was fined $500 on each of four counts of disobeying a sign contrary to the Public Lands Act. He was convicted on two counts of leaving a boat on a lake where a boat cache restriction applied and two counts for accessing a lake where an access restriction was in place from May 1 to October 31. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - November 4, 2008 - Grades 5 and 6 students at St. John’s Catholic 
School in Red Lake learned all about biodiversity and the components of the environment from two Ministry of Natural Resources Red Lake District staff members on October 28, 2008.
Robert Partridge, a forester, spoke to the students about trees and their ecology while Renee Bausch, a biologist, spoke about vertebrates including their different classes, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and how they differ. Afterwards, the students went on a nature walk to test their knowledge. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - October 28, 2008 - Six southern Ontario moose hunters have been fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to illegally leaving a hunt camp on Crown land in the Dryden area. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - Ocotber 22, 2008 - Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers laid 40 charges against hunters and anglers during the first three days of the moose-hunting season in the Thunder Bay area. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - October 03, 2008 - Three local Dubreuilville residents were fined $200 each for trespassing for the purpose of hunting.
Laurent Blais, 43, Ginette Tremblay, 33, and Jason Tremblay, 21, pleaded guilty to the offences. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - September 30, 2008 - A remote tourist outfitter was fined $1,600 for failing to provide the required boat safety equipment for its guests. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - September 24, 2008 - Two men have been fined a total of $2,250 in three separate cases for leaving garbage on Crown land.
Brett Geary, 48, a local tourist outfitter in the Red Lake area, has been fined $1,750 in one incident and $250 in another, for offences under the Public Lands Act. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - September 19, 2008 - An Ignace couple have been fined $2,500 for possessing 25 walleye over the legal limit.
Harold St. Cyr, 71, and Isobel St. Cyr, 64, who pleaded not guilty, were convicted following a trial. The fish were donated to charity. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - September 9, 2008 - A Thunder Bay man has been fined $750 for buying fish illegally.
Thomas Lotas, 52, pleaded guilty to the offence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - Sept. 08, 2008 - Ministry of Natural Resources Conservation Officers 
took part in the 44th annual Nipigon Fall Fishing Festival on August 30 and 31, 2008.
Officers from Nipigon, the Upper Great Lakes and the Canine Unit teamed up to man an information booth, participate in the parade and put on canine demonstrations with one of the new Northwestern Ontario Canine Teams. The festival, also known as “More Than Just a Fish Derby,” is steeped in tradition celebrating fishing in the Nipigon area. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - September 02, 2008 - Ninety-two per cent of anglers and bear hunters checked during a recent enforcement blitz on Highway 71 southeast of Kenora were obeying Ontario's fishing and hunting regulations.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Provincial Police carried out the blitz on August 22, 2008. read more...>
ANGLERS HOOKED FOR $1,800 ON LAKE NIPIGON
THUNDER BAY, ON - August 28, 2008 - Eight anglers have been fined a total of $1,800 after pleading guilty to angling with barbed hooks and extra hooks on Lake Nipigon. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON. - August 20, 2008 - Andy Heerschap and his partner, Bear, are one of three new teams in the Canine Services Unit of the ministry. Heerschap and Bear are located in Thunder Bay while the other two new teams are located in North Bay and Bancroft. Three other teams are already working out of Dryden, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - August 07,2008 - For the second year in a row, Red Lake High 
School biology students assisted the Ministry of Natural Resources in a snowshoe hare population survey in the Red Lake area.
From June 24 to June 30, students in Darrin Bausch’s biology class collected hare pellets from sample plots that were established last year. The number of pellets collected indicates the number of hares in the area. Since lynx prey upon hares, the population of hares will also indicate the population of lynx. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - August 5, 2008 - The Ministry of Natural Resources is asking residents to take the necessary steps to prevent bear problems in their neighborhoods.
There have been several bear sightings recently on the fringe of settlement areas in the Nipigon, Terrace Bay and Greenstone areas. Bears are looking for any food sources including garbage. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - August 1, 2008 - 50 children spent a fun and fact-filled day 
learning all about fishing from Ministry of Natural Resources Conservation Officers and Schreiber Ontario Provincial Police Officers at the ‘Rainbow Falls Bass Blast’ held at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park on July 27, 2008. read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 30, 2008 - Ministry Solves Case with Help from Public
Four Vermont men have been fined $7,500 after being convicted of a variety of deer hunting violations which took place north of Kenora.
Jess Herring, 35, of Worcester, and Brad Herring, 31, of Barre, have been fined $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, for careless hunting and will be required to successfully complete a hunter’s education course before being allowed to hunt in Ontario again. They were also fined $500 for allowing flesh of a game animal to become unsuitable for human consumption. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 16, 2008 - Ninety-five percent of anglers checked by Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Provincial Police officers in an enforcement blitz in the Sioux Lookout area were found to be obeying the rules.
On July 3 and 4, 2008, five Sioux Lookout District conservation officers and an OPP constable checked 274 non-resident and 77 resident anglers on the water and at tourist camps. The officers used two enforcement boats on Abram, Pelican, Minnitaki and Botsford lakes and a high-visibility enforcement truck at the tourist camps. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 16, 2008 - Two Thunder Bay men have been fined $8,000 for commercial fishing offences, with one man receiving a ten-year ban from participating in the commercial fishing industry.
Daniel Sameluk, 34, pleaded guilty to two over-quota charges and was fined $4,000.
Jarvis Sameluk, 64, was convicted in court of two over-quota charges and was fined $4,000. He also received a ban from any involvement in the commercial fishing industry for the next 10 years. The commercial fishing ban was imposed as a result of a range of convictions over more than 25 years. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 14, 2008 - Eight grade five students from the Golden Learning 
Centre were treated to a day of fishing by three Ministry of Natural Resources Red Lake District conservation officers.
The threat of rain and the chill of the unseasonable cold temperatures on June 14 could not remove the smiles from the faces of the students as they stood on the docks at Forestry Point in Red Lake waiting to spend the day fishing with Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 10, 2008 - Two men have been fined $2,300 after pleading guilty to several charges arising from the illegal killing of a black bear.
Bradley Robinson, 25, of Fort Frances, and Wesley McFarlane, 26, of Thunder Bay, have each been fined $1,000 for hunting bear during the closed season and abandoning the animal allowing its flesh to spoil. Robinson was also fined $300 for possessing a firearm at night. Both men have been banned from hunting for one year. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 10, 2008 - A joint aircraft patrol by Ontario and Manitoba conservation officers showed only one-third of anglers checked were obeying the rules.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers from Red Lake District and Manitoba Conservation natural resources officers conducted a joint, two-day fisheries check by aircraft on lakes bordering Ontario and Manitoba, June 23 and 24. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 2, 2008 - A Dryden man has been fined to pay $3,150 in fines for an over limit of lake trout found in his home.
Norbert Graf, 50, pleaded guilty to possessing an over limit of lake trout, resulting in a $3,000 fine. Graf also pleaded guilty to using an extra line while ice fishing and was fined $150. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 17, 2008 - MNR and OPP Joint Patrol Results in 18 charges
Most anglers checked during an enforcement blitz on Lac Seul were obeying Ontario’s fishing regulations. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 13, 2008 - Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers checked anglers at tourist camps along the Highway 105 corridor, south of Ear Falls on June 5 and 6, 2008.
Six conservation officers from Kenora, Red Lake and Dryden districts visited 25 tourist camps and checked 21 Ontario residents and 199 non-residents. They laid 16 charges, mostly for over limits of fish and issued 25 warnings, mostly for improper packaging of fish. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 13, 2008 - Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers, with the help of the Northwest Region canine unit, conducted a two-day patrol in the Greenstone area.
On June 7 and 8, 2008, a Geraldton conservation officer along with the Northwest Region canine handler and his dog, Riggs, checked anglers at fly-in water bases and river and lake access points in the Geraldton, Longlac and Nakina areas. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 12, 2008 - Safe and sober boating was promoted by officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) at a community health event in Ignace. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 12,2008 - KENORA – Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) conservation officers made presentations to Beaver Brae high school students about the role of officers in protecting Ontario’s natural resources. read more...>
Nipigon District Fish regulations change
December 14, 2007 Nipigon Several changes to Ontario’s fishing regulations come into effect on January 1, 2008. The changes are part of the ministry’s new ecological framework for recreational fisheries management in Ontario. Under this approach, the ministry is managing fisheries on a landscape basis rather than on a lake-by-lake basis. read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June, 05, 2008 - The Ministry of Natural Resources is consulting with the public on a review of its moose management program.
If you have any comments or ideas about moose management, the ministry wants to hear from you. You can pick up an information package and questionnaire: read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 3, 2008 - If you find juvenile wildlife that appears to be orphaned, sick or injured, avoid contact to prevent bites and scratches. Some species can carry diseases and parasites that are harmful to humans.
Injured wildlife also requires specialized and immediate care to recover and return to the wild. read more...>
RED LAKE, ON - May 30, 2008 – Ministry of Natural Resources staff have been studying 
wolverine, a species at risk in Ontario, over the last seven years.
The ministry chose seven sites in the Red Lake area for a study, which took place from January 2008 to the end of May 2008. Cameras were set up to “capture” photographs of wolverine. As well, hair samples were collected for DNA analysis. read more
THUNDER BAY,ON - MAY 21, 2008 – A local citizens’ committee has been cleaning up garbage on Crown land near Thunder Bay.
The Spruce River Forest Local Citizens’ Committee (LCC) cleaned up garbage in areas along the highway to Armstrong, within the Spruce River Forest, on May 9, 2008. The clean-ups occur two or three times a year and have been taking place over the last ten years. read more...>
Two Toronto men have been fined $20,000 for fishing violations related to the illegal harvest of a sturgeon and the purchase and transport of sturgeon eggs.
Sergiy Pak, 44, of Richmond Hill, pleaded guilty to unlawfully buying and transporting sturgeon eggs and was fined $15,000. Roman Weig, 53, of Thornhill, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence and unlawfully transporting sturgeon eggs; read more....>
Forest Fire Update - West Region Fire Centre
THUNDER BAY, ON - MAY 13, 2008 - Thunder Bay fire staff responded to a search and rescue call on Sunday afternoon. An Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) sounded in the region and the Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton dispatched rescue aircraft and contacted the MNR Provincial Coordination Centre (PCC) in Sault Ste. Marie. Through this multi-agency cooperation a ministry helicopter pilot was contacted at the Thunder Bay Fire anagement Headquarters in Thunder Bay with a request to assist. Helicopter Pilot Pat Dickey and FireRangers Murray Sitch and Dan Lagacy quickly removed the firefighting equipment from the aircraft, replacing it with a winter survival kit and a stretcher kit. Once airborne they tracked to an area about 60 kilometres southwest of Geraldton in search of the aircraft. read more....>
DULUTH, MN, - GRAND MARAIS, MN - May 3, 2008 - Forest managers are cautioning visitors to use extra care while driving n Superior National Forest roads this spring. The combination of recent precipitation along with frozen ground conditions continuing late this spring have created heavy run-off. read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 29, 2008 - A Geraldton man has been fined $5,000 for unsafe hunting.David Rody, 34, who was not present at his trial, was convicted under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
On April 29, 2007, Rody was driving on Highway 11 west of Geraldton with his two young sons and a dog, when he saw a moose along the bush line. An oncoming transport truck driver saw Rody pull his vehicle to the shoulder of the road, leaving the rear of his vehicle on the highway. As the truck driver passed Rody, he heard a gunshot from Rody’s vehicle. read more....>
KENORA CUBS AND SCOUTS LEARN ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES
KENORA, ON. – April 15, 2008 - Ministry of Natural Resources Kenora District staff 
provided a dynamic evening on natural resources-related topics to cubs and scouts from the Third Kenora Cub/Scout Troop. read more.....>
$10.100 in hunting fines
THUNDER BAY, ON. - April 9, 2008 - Three Vermont hunters have been fined $7,500 for careless hunting in the Kenora area. Three men from Taschereau, Quebec, have been fined $2,600 for illegal hunting. read more.....>
$1,000 FINE failing to pay Commerical Fish Royalities
THUNDER BAY, ON. - April 3, 2008 - A Thunder Bay man has been fined $1,000 for failing to pay commercial fish royalties to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Glenn Dawson, 46, pleaded guilty under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. He was also put on probation for 15 days and is required to pay the royalties he owes in full during that time. read more....>
FINED $1,000 FOR LITTERING
GERALDTON, ON ~ March 12, 2008 ~ A Geraldton-area woman has been fined $1,000 for littering on public land. Debbie Kashgeesh, 37, of Aroland, was found guilty at a trial which she did not attend. read more....>
Illegal deer hunting $4,500 in fines.
KENORA, ON ~ March 11, 2008 ~ MNR, Kenora crack down on illegal deer hunting with the courts handing out over $4,500 in fines. read more....>
RED LAKE ~ March 7, 2008 ~ Two southern Ontario hunters, who shot at a bull moose decoy, have been fined $3,000 each. Philip Montgomery, 27, of Barrie, and Evan Bates, 28, of Parry Sound, pleaded guilty under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to shooting from a motor boat and hunting a bull moose without a validation tag. They are also banned from hunting for a year. They’ll get their weapons, boat and motor back when they pay the fines.. read more......>
GERALDTON – THUNDER BAY ON ~February 29, 2008 ~ Three Ministry of Natural Resources conservation 
officers presented information to high school students about choosing a career as a conservation officer.
Geraldton Area officers Derek Hebner, Tom Gross and Ken Albu attended the Apprenticeship, Business and Career Fair at Geraldton Composite High School on February 27, 2008. read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON ~ February 27, 2008 ~ Earlier this week, Lake Superior News reported on an incident which 
happened at Boulevard Lake where a dog was snared. Here is a follow up to the original story. The names have been withheld in order to protect the pet owners.
My husband and I were taking our dog for a walk on Saturday at Boulevard Lake between the Current River Dam and St. Ignatius High School. read more.....>
THUNDER BAY ~ February 26, 2008 ~ Lake Superior News has been informed that if you have a dog or know someone who has a dog and takes them for a walk by the Boulevard Lake that someone has been setting up snares. read more....>
February 14, 2008 ~ THUNDER BAY ~ Shane Corlett, 39, has been fined $6,000 for having 30 walleye over the legal limit and $4,600 for having 23 brook trout over the legal limit. He forfeits the fish to the Crown. read more...>
February 14, 2008 ~ Thunder Bay ~ Justin Storm, 28, pleaded guilty under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The female lynx was spayed and declawed before she was seized, so the animal cannot be returned to the wild. Instead she will go a wildlife facility in Wisconsin . read more....>
January 30, 2008 ~ IGNACE — An Ignace hunter has been fined $1,600 for shooting the wrong moose and for not wearing hunter orange.Rodney Szyszka, 33, was fined $1,500 for shooting a moose without a proper licence and $100 for not wearing hunter orange. He is also banned from hunting for eight months. He forfeited the moose to the Crown and it was donated to charity read more.....>
January 25, 2008 ~ NIPIGON – Ministry of Natural Resources conservations officers served 
pancakes to students at St. Edward’s Catholic School in Nipigon. The officers provided information about the MNR Tips line, local Species at Risk woodland caribou and safe and responsible ATV riding. read more......>
January 22, 2008 ~ THUNDER BAY — A Lappe man has been fined $3,000 after pleading guilty to illegally snaring and killing a deer. Derek Magnuson, 37, has been fined $1,000 for killing a white-tailed deer by trap or baited line, $1,000 read more.....>
January 18, 2008 ~ DRYDEN — Two men have been fined $3,000 for illegally hunting and abandoning white-tailed deer.
Court was told the two men were hunting for cow moose on October 14, 2007, in Wildlife Management Unit 8, southwest of Dryden. They shot a buck deer, which they abandoned when they realized the deer season was closed. The meat spoiled. Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers from Dryden, Fort Frances and Guelph, as well as a canine officer, worked together on the investigation.read more....>
TRAPPER FINED FOR HAVING SPECIES AT RISK
January 18, 2008 ~ RED LAKE — An Ear Falls trapper has been fined $700 for illegally possessing a wolverine, an animal designated as “threatened” on the Species At Risk in Ontario list. read more....>
Career Fair Wabaseemoong School
December 31, 2007 ~ THUNDER BAY — The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is organizing and sponsoring a career fair to introduce Wabaseemoong School students, kindergarten through Grade 12, to careers in the natural resources sector Tuesday, January 8, 2008.read more ....>
Nipigon District Fish regulations change
December 14, 2007 Nipigon Several changes to Ontario’s fishing regulations come into effect on January 1, 2008. The changes are part of the ministry’s new ecological framework for recreational fisheries management in Ontario. Under this approach, the ministry is managing fisheries on a landscape basis rather than on a lake-by-lake basis. read more.....>
January 30, 2008 ~ IGNACE — An Ignace hunter has been fined $1,600 for shooting the wrong moose and for not wearing hunter orange.
Rodney Szyszka, 33, was fined $1,500 for shooting a moose without a proper licence and $100 for not wearing hunter orange. He is also banned from hunting for eight months. He forfeited the moose to the Crown and it was donated to charity read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 05, 2008 - McGuinty Government Works With Partners To Learn More About Prehistoric-looking Fish
A study of lake sturgeon populations is under way in the Winnipeg River that will add to our knowledge of this important part of Ontario’s biodiversity. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO - Janurary 28, 2009 - Two southern Ontario men and one Missouri resident have been convicted of offences relating to the illegal hunting of moose in 2007. Ronald James Cook, 42, of Gravenhurst, was convicted of illegally hunting a bull moose without a licence, possessing and transporting illegally killed wildlife, and having a void licence. He was fined $5,500, and his hunting licence was suspended for two years. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 17, 2009 - Three Mine Centre residents have been ordered to pay fines totalling $6,400 following two incidents of illegal hunting. Byron Burkholder, 25, and Ewan Burkholder, 22, were each fined $700 for illegally hunting a cow moose. The moose was killed in the Atikokan area on October 18, 2008. Both men have had their hunting licences suspended for one year and must complete a hunter safety course before their licences will be returned.
The draw allocates moose tags to resident hunters. It is designed to give the greatest number of hunters an opportunity to hunt or share an adult moose while maintaining sustainable moose populations. Through the open houses, the Ontario government is encouraging people to discuss how the draw system can be improved. Biologists will be on hand to lead discussions and answer questions. read more...>
HUNTING COW MOOSE WITHOUT A LICENCE RESULTS IN FINE AND SUSPENSION
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 20, 2009 - A Thomasburg, Ontario, man has been fined and had his hunting licence suspended after illegally shooting an adult moose. Bradley A. Hendrick, 28, was fined $1,500 under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act for shooting a cow moose without a moose licence. He is also prohibited from hunting moose in Ontario for one year. Hendrick’s firearm was confiscated and will be returned once his fine is paid. read more...>
Ontario Stewardship Rangers - Fort Frances
FORT FRANCES, ON - August 20, 2009 - The Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario Stewardship Ranger Program is an eight-week summer job program that offers 17-year-olds an opportunity to focus on community-based environmental projects working in partnership with stewardship councils, conservation authorities, landowners, local industry, local municipalities and non-government organizations. read more...>
Conservation Authority hosts Open House at Mission Island Marsh