Parks Canada is seeking the public's assistance following a suspected waterfowl poaching incident involving a swan at Point Pelee National Park. The incident is believed to have occurred overnight between 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, and 8 a.m. on Friday, April 24, in the park's marsh area.
Authorities Appeal for Information
Law enforcement officers are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage from the park entrance, marsh boardwalk, or Blue Heron day-use area captured during that time period to contact them. "Poaching in national parks is a serious offence and public help is vital to protecting wildlife and visitor safety," said Julia Grcevic, public relations and communications officer with Parks Canada.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity, the illegal discharge of a firearm, or relevant dashcam footage is asked to contact Parks Canada at 1-877-852-3100 or pelee.info@pc.gc.ca.
Witness Recounts Encounter
Melissa Hargreaves, a Chatham resident who works in Leamington, said she photographed the female swan believed to have been shot just a day earlier during one of her regular visits to the park. "She was sitting on her nest and pruning her feathers … just being super calm and relaxed," Hargreaves said. "I spent about 10 minutes with her and I took a bunch of videos and pictures. I was talking about how pretty she was."
Hargreaves said learning what happened left her heartbroken. "It's awful. Somebody went into a national park and killed a bird … it sucks. I hope the person responsible gets the maximum penalty. Poaching shouldn't happen and it sure should not happen in a national park where people consistently go in and watch these beautiful creatures."
Related Incidents
Recently, a South Woodslee man was fined $1,700 after pleading guilty to catching an over-limit amount of walleye in a nearby area. In another case, two Windsor-Essex men were fined for moose hunting violations in northern Ontario. Additionally, Point Pelee National Park has been closing for its annual deer cull due to a "hyperabundant" population.
In a case before Justice of the Peace Maureen Ryan-Brode at the Ontario Court of Justice, the court heard testimony that provincial conservation officers were conducting a marine patrol July 16, 2023, on Lake Erie in the Leamington area. The officers came across a man in his boat and found he was fishing with four lines, when only two lines per person are allowed. Further inspection revealed 14 walleye in the boat's live well, which was eight over his sport fishing licence quota of six fish. All 14 fish were seized and forfeited to the Crown and subsequently donated to a member of the public.
Parks Canada emphasizes that poaching in national parks undermines conservation efforts and endangers wildlife. The agency urges anyone with information about this incident to come forward to help protect the park's natural heritage.
