Poaching Investigation at Point Pelee National Park

Parks Canada is investigating a suspected poaching of waterfowl at Point Peeley National Park in the Marsh area.

It went down sometime between 8 p.m. on April 23rd and 8 a.m. on April 24th.

Officials think it was a nesting female swan killed illegally with a firearm, though they haven't confirmed the bird type yet.

They're calling on anyone who heard or saw a gun fired during that 12-hour window to come forward.

Parks Canada also wants dash cam footage from the park entrance, marsh boardwalk, or blue hair and day use areas to help track down the culprit.

Regular visitors are heartbroken over this.

One woman snapped picks of the swan the day before, chilling on her nest, turning her eggs, looking totally at peace.

Others noted how close the swans nested to the boardwalk, worrying about disturbances from people, but never dreaming of something this cruel.

Poaching counts as a serious offense under the Canada National Parks Act, and folks hope whoever did it faces the max penalty.

The grace of these birds that mate for life hits hard, leaving questions about what happens to the surviving mate.

This incident shines a light on protecting these natural spots, urging us all to stay vigilant, so parks like Point Peeley stay safe for wildlife and visitors alike.

From your city, powered by AI, this is Canada News Today. I'm Corey with the story.