Saskatchewan resident fined over $10,000 for illegally trading protected species
A Saskatchewan resident has been fined a total of $10,550 for illegal trade activities involving protected species.
The individual, whose name has not been released, was fined $5,000 for possession of an American alligator without a permit, $2,500 for possession of a snapping turtle without a permit, and $3,050 for possession of a diamondback rattlesnake without a permit.
The fines were handed down in provincial court in Saskatoon on November 29, 2024.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment’s Fish and Wildlife Branch, which began in May 2024 after the ministry received a complaint about the individual possessing protected species without a permit.
During the investigation, conservation officers seized an American alligator, a snapping turtle, and a diamondback rattlesnake from the individual’s residence.
The American alligator is a protected species under the federal Species at Risk Act, and it is illegal to possess one without a permit. The snapping turtle and diamondback rattlesnake are both protected species under Saskatchewan’s Wildlife Act, and it is also illegal to possess them without a permit.
The individual pleaded guilty to all three charges.
In addition to the fines, the individual was also ordered to forfeit the three animals to the ministry. The animals will be placed in a rehabilitation centre and eventually released back into the wild.
The ministry reminds the public that it is important to obtain the proper permits before possessing or trading protected species. The ministry also encourages the public to report any suspected violations of the Species at Risk Act or the Wildlife Act.
Media Contact:
Ministry of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch 306-933-5782 media@environment.gov.sk.ca
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