Concerns have been raised following the closure of a wildlife protection office in western Quebec, with fears that poaching activities may rise in the region. The closure of the Campbell’s Bay office earlier this month has left only three offices covering the vast Outaouais region, spanning 33,000 square kilometers.
Martin Perreault, the provincial president of Quebec’s wildlife protection agency, the Syndicat des agents de protection de la faune du Québec, expressed the belief that the closure will likely result in an uptick in poaching incidents. Perreault highlighted that the reduced presence of officers may deter residents from reporting wildlife crimes due to concerns about delayed responses.
Echoing similar sentiments, Marc Renaud, the general manager of the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, emphasized worries about the potential increase in poaching due to fewer officers in the field. Renaud also pointed out the challenges posed by the significant distances officers now have to travel to respond to incidents promptly.
The Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife, and Parks reassured that the region will still receive adequate coverage despite the office closure. The ministry mentioned ongoing public awareness campaigns and report processing efforts in Campbell’s Bay, Papineauville, and Gatineau.
However, with only 42 wildlife officers responsible for a vast area encompassing the Outaouais, Laval, and the Laurentians regions, the closure of the Campbell’s Bay office has sparked worries among officials like Chantal Lamarche, the warden of the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau regional municipality. Lamarche expressed concerns that the Maniwaki office might face closure next and criticized the decision-makers for sending a message that could encourage poaching activities.