Here's an email I received just now from Peaceful Parks.
Updates: Frogs and Sunday Gun Hunting
Sunday Gun Hunting:
Many have already read in their local newspapers that the McGuinty government has approved Sunday gun hunting across southern Ontario. Sunday gun hunting was already approved north of the French River.
The big difference between the north and south regions is that municipalities govern the vast majority of land in southern Ontario. Only 33% of municipalities approved Sunday gun hunting and the result is a scattered patchwork of areas where hunting on Sundays will be allowed. For a complete list and maps of these areas, please link to:
maps: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/fwmenu.html#hunting
lists: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/Ebr/sunday_hunt/municipalities.pdf
So if you are woken up before sunrise on Saturday morning and then again on Sunday morning, first thing Monday morning you can head down to your local city hall and demand they revoke Sunday gun hunting, or pass a bylaw restricting the times of the hunt.
The municipalities approved Sunday gun hunting, they can also revoke Sunday gun hunting.
Sunday gun hunting is effective as of September 1, 2006. It applies to all hunting with guns all year round.
Frogs and Crayfish:
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is currently seeking comments for a proposed ban of the use of frogs and crayfish as fishing bait. This is an excellent proposal. Please take the time to send in your comments of support. Below is a short description. This proposal is currently posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/027239ep.htm
EBR # PB06E6006
Short Description:
Frogs:
Due to the world-wide concern over global declines in amphibian populations and concerns in Canada about the decline of seventeen species of amphibians, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) began regulating the harvest and sale of frogs for use as bait by anglers in Ontario in 2001. Recent scientific studies have confirmed that the transfer of northern leopard frogs (the only species allowed for commercial harvesting and sale) across southern Ontario, and the conditions which frogs are held in bait shops are contributing to the spread of Ranavirus. This disease is relatively new or newly recognized in North America and most recently discovered in southern Ontario. In Ontario, so far it has been associated with mass mortality events in the wood frog and leopard frog. In a four year study of northern leopard frogs in eastern and central Ontario, their abundance has declined in several areas.
Due to conservation and disease issues, the MNR is considering banning the commercialization of frogs as bait or a complete ban on using frogs as bait.
Crayfish:
The rusty crayfish has been introduced to many Ontario lakes and streams where they cause a variety of ecological problems with native flora and fauna. The first Ontario reports of rusty crayfish were from the Kawartha Lakes in the early 1960s. Since then, this species has become established in many areas of the southern and northwestern parts of the province. The range of this species continues to spread at an alarming rate suggesting the movement of bait is a significant pathway. Once introduced, rusty crayfish are difficult to control and almost impossible to eradicate. It is vital, therefore, to prevent their spread to other waterbodies.
The MNR is considering banning the use of rusty crayfish as bait, or a ban on all crayfish species due to the difficulty in identifying crayfish species, particularly hybrids.
Please send comments to:
Chris Brousseau, Senior Fisheries Biologist
MNR Fish and Wildlife Branch, Fisheries Section
5th Floor, North Tower, 300 Water Street
Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 8M5
PHONE: (705) 755-1231 FAX: (705) 755-1957
Email: chris.brousseau@mnr.gov.on.ca
Peaceful Parks Coalition, P.O. Box 326, Station B, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2W2 T. 416.785.8636 www.peacefulparks.org
Updates: Frogs and Sunday Gun Hunting
Sunday Gun Hunting:
Many have already read in their local newspapers that the McGuinty government has approved Sunday gun hunting across southern Ontario. Sunday gun hunting was already approved north of the French River.
The big difference between the north and south regions is that municipalities govern the vast majority of land in southern Ontario. Only 33% of municipalities approved Sunday gun hunting and the result is a scattered patchwork of areas where hunting on Sundays will be allowed. For a complete list and maps of these areas, please link to:
maps: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/fwmenu.html#hunting
lists: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/Ebr/sunday_hunt/municipalities.pdf
So if you are woken up before sunrise on Saturday morning and then again on Sunday morning, first thing Monday morning you can head down to your local city hall and demand they revoke Sunday gun hunting, or pass a bylaw restricting the times of the hunt.
The municipalities approved Sunday gun hunting, they can also revoke Sunday gun hunting.
Sunday gun hunting is effective as of September 1, 2006. It applies to all hunting with guns all year round.
Frogs and Crayfish:
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is currently seeking comments for a proposed ban of the use of frogs and crayfish as fishing bait. This is an excellent proposal. Please take the time to send in your comments of support. Below is a short description. This proposal is currently posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/027239ep.htm
EBR # PB06E6006
Short Description:
Frogs:
Due to the world-wide concern over global declines in amphibian populations and concerns in Canada about the decline of seventeen species of amphibians, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) began regulating the harvest and sale of frogs for use as bait by anglers in Ontario in 2001. Recent scientific studies have confirmed that the transfer of northern leopard frogs (the only species allowed for commercial harvesting and sale) across southern Ontario, and the conditions which frogs are held in bait shops are contributing to the spread of Ranavirus. This disease is relatively new or newly recognized in North America and most recently discovered in southern Ontario. In Ontario, so far it has been associated with mass mortality events in the wood frog and leopard frog. In a four year study of northern leopard frogs in eastern and central Ontario, their abundance has declined in several areas.
Due to conservation and disease issues, the MNR is considering banning the commercialization of frogs as bait or a complete ban on using frogs as bait.
Crayfish:
The rusty crayfish has been introduced to many Ontario lakes and streams where they cause a variety of ecological problems with native flora and fauna. The first Ontario reports of rusty crayfish were from the Kawartha Lakes in the early 1960s. Since then, this species has become established in many areas of the southern and northwestern parts of the province. The range of this species continues to spread at an alarming rate suggesting the movement of bait is a significant pathway. Once introduced, rusty crayfish are difficult to control and almost impossible to eradicate. It is vital, therefore, to prevent their spread to other waterbodies.
The MNR is considering banning the use of rusty crayfish as bait, or a ban on all crayfish species due to the difficulty in identifying crayfish species, particularly hybrids.
Please send comments to:
Chris Brousseau, Senior Fisheries Biologist
MNR Fish and Wildlife Branch, Fisheries Section
5th Floor, North Tower, 300 Water Street
Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 8M5
PHONE: (705) 755-1231 FAX: (705) 755-1957
Email: chris.brousseau@mnr.gov.on.ca
Peaceful Parks Coalition, P.O. Box 326, Station B, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2W2 T. 416.785.8636 www.peacefulparks.org
