Government Protecting Wildlife from Illegal Trapping
Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry
2022-04-01 10:30:00

The Ontario government is safeguarding wildlife from illegal trapping by ensuring trappers follow the lawful requirements.

Jason Reaume of Pain Court was fined $1,500 for two counts of unlawfully using a suspended snare.

Court heard that on January 25, 2021, officers received information that two deer had been caught in cable snares in the vicinity of Pain Court in Chatham-Kent. Officers attended the location and saw a dead deer with an anchored cable snare around its neck. They also confirmed through video evidence that a second deer had been caught in another nearby cable snare but had snapped the cable near the anchor point. Officers determined that the snares had been set by Jason Reaume, who claimed they were the lawful relaxing cable restraint-style snares; however the investigation determined that the snares did not meet the legal definition of relaxing cable restraints.

Justice of the Peace Calvin V. Hurst heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Chatham-Kent, on March 2, 2022.

The trapping of wildlife is a regulated activity and regulations governing trapping equipment help prevent unintended wildlife from being trapped, injured or killed.

Conservation officers remind everyone that by respecting seasons, sanctuaries, bag and possession limits, we all help ensure our natural resources stay healthy. To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrftips.