Ontario Conservation Officers are the enforcement arm of the

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry The Ministry of Natural Resources is a government ministry of the Canadian province of Ontario that is responsible for Ontario's provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 pe ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. Conservation officers enforce provincial and federal laws related to natural resources, including fishing and hunting, and preventing forest fires. Conservation officers (CO's) patrol the lakes, trails and back roads of Ontario to protect natural resources, and ensure public safety. They are professional, armed

peace officer A law enforcement officer (LEO), or police officer or peace officer in North American English, is a public-sector or private-sector employee whose duties primarily involve the enforcement of laws, protecting life & property, keeping the peace, ...

s trained to police standards. Conservation officers also spent time educating the public on conservation and safety, providing information on the regulations that protect species at risk, how to recognize and help prevent the spread of invasive species, prevention of forest fires, boating safety and how to prepare fish for transport, changes to fishing and hunting regulations and how to report known or suspected resource abuse to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry TIPS violation reporting line at 1-877-847-7667. Conservation officers enforce Ontario’s natural resources laws. They investigate and prosecute offenders under many federal and provincial statutes, relating to: fire, fish and wildlife,

invasive species An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native spec ...

, forestry, aggregates (sand and gravel), public lands, public safety (e.g. recreational vehicle use, forest fire prevention) and Law enforcement. Conservation officers are empowered to: stop and/or inspect a vehicle, boat or aircraft, inspect firearms, ammunition, fish or game, inspect buildings or other places, search with a warrant, and in circumstances requiring immediate action, without one, seize items related to an offence, ask questions relevant to the inspection and arrest anyone who has committed, is committing or is about to commit an offence under many of the acts they are authorized to enforce.

References

External links

Ontario Conservation Officers Association

Ontario Conservation Officer History page
Law enforcement agencies of Ontario Government agencies established in 1892 1892 establishments in Ontario Forestry agencies in Canada {{environmental-agency-stub