Protection of wildlife habitats and driving in vulnerable environments

Protection of wildlife habitats

Hunters should be reminded that the law protects wildlife habitats. Thus it is forbidden for anyone to engage, without authorization, in an activity likely to modify a biological, physical, or chemical element belonging to an animal or fish habitat. This may mean, for example:

• spilling oil, gas or any other toxic substance or waste in any place, but particularly in a lake, marsh, swamp, floodplain or waterway;
• traversing such waterways or along a river bank or sandbank in a motorized vehicle;
• constructing a dam on such waterways which, in addition to preventing the free run of fish, may modify their habitat;
• removing or depositing gravel or rocks from/on the bed of such a waterway, or backfilling. Remember that even minor operations can cause damage to a fish habitat.

Should you witness such acts, report them to a wildlife protection officer by calling SOS Poaching at 1 800 463-2191 or by going to a Wildlife Protection Office of the Department. Remember that all humid environments, even those only periodically so, may be vital for fish. For more information on the current regulation, contact one of the Department’s offices.

Driving in vulnerable environments

Vehicle traffic in certain vulnerable environments is regulated as well. It should be understood that it is forbidden to drive:

• in motor vehicles over sandhills on State property;
• in motor vehicles other than snowmobiles:
  
  • on beaches, and offshore bars, in marshes and swamps located on the littorals (sandbanks) of the fleuve Saint-Laurent downstream from the Laviolette bridge, of the Saint-Laurent estuary and gulf, of the Baie des Chaleurs, and of the islands situated there. However, this restriction is meant to prevent neither engagement in legal hunting related activity, nor traffic on paths identified for this purpose and prepared in conformity with the law, nor access to a private property.
  • in the peat bogs on State property, south of the fleuve Saint-Laurent, its estuary, and the gulf of Saint-Laurent, except to retrieve a big game animal killed within the framework of a legal hunting activity.

To be informed on the current regulation on driving vehicles in vulnerable environments in its entirety, consult the ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs du Québec which is responsible for enforcement of this regulation, at 1 800 561-1616 or visit its Web sitewww.mddep.gouv.qc.ca.