EASTER WEEKEND ENFORCEMENT BLITZ AT ST. WILLIAMS CONSERVATION RESERVE
April 15, 2009
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Provincial Police laid 3 charges and issued 30 warnings during joint enforcement patrols in the St. Williams Conservation Reserve over the April 10-13 weekend. The blitz focused on the Nursery, Manester and Turkey Point tracts.
Ministry conservation officers and Ontario Provincial Police constables from the Norfolk detachment used all-terrain vehicles to check 193 people who were using the conservation reserve. They laid 3 charges and issued 30 warnings.
The violations included:
Off-road vehicles such as dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles can seriously damage the environment. The St. Williams Conservation Reserve contains oak savannah, one of North America's most threatened habitats. The ministry has placed signs in the conservation reserve to identify areas where it is important to protect species at risk and their habitats.
This spring the ministry is increasing enforcement at the St. Williams Conservation Reserve to ensure motorized vehicles are only used in permitted areas. Members of the public are encouraged to help protect the St. Williams Conservation Reserve by reporting violations. Visitors are reminded to drive safely and to obey all signs.
To report a natural resource
violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your
local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime
Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).