Protection of wildlife habitats and motor vehicle traffic in fragile environments

It is important to remember that wildlife habitats are protected by law. For example, it is forbidden to engage, without authorization, in an activity likely to modify a biological, physical or chemical element specific to the habitat of an animal or a fish. This may include:

• spilling oil, gasoline or any other toxic waste or substance in any place, but especially in a fish habitat, in a lake, a marsh a swamp, a flood plain or a watercourse;
• fording any of the above bodies of water in a motor vehicle, or driving on a shore or watercourse bank;
• building a dam on any of the above bodies of water that, in addition to impeding the free circulation of fish, may alter its habitat;
• removing or depositing gravel or rocks in the bed of any watercourse or carrying out backfill work.

It is important to remember that any environment where there is water, even sporadically (for example, in the spring), may be vital to fish. Even small projects may damage fish habitats. If you witness these or other acts, please report them to a wildlife protection officer by calling SOS Poaching – Wildlife Emergency au 1 800 463‑2191 or by going in person to a wildlife protection office.

Motor vehicle traffic in certain fragile environments is also regulated.

Please note that you are forbidden from travelling:

• with a motor vehicle on dunes in the domain of the State;
• with a motor vehicle other than a snowmobile:
  • on the beaches and offshore bars, and in marshes and swamps situated in the littoral zone (foreshore) of the St. Lawrence River downstream from Pont Laviolette, its estuary, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Baie des Chaleurs and the islands located in these areas. However, this restriction does not prevent legal hunting activities, travel on trails designed for that purpose and built in accordance with the law, or access to private property;
  • in peat bogs in the domain of the State situated south of the St. Lawrence River, the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, except to haul a big game animal killed during an authorized hunting activity.

For information on the regulations applicable to motor vehicle traffic in fragile environments, contact the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs by calling 1 800 561‑1616.