Fish and Wildlife PEI
183 Upton Road C1A 7N8 Charlottetown, PE, Canada

Tomorrow, April 15th, marks the start of the 2021 fishing season. People are excited and the weather looks great, so we want to wish everyone the best of luck. And remember as the old saying goes, "The best time to go fishing is whenever you can!"

As part of their AGM, the Hillsborough River Association is hosting a special presentation on the Mammals of Prince Edward Island featuring noted wildlife biologist Rosemary Curly. The meeting will be held on Tuesday April 13, 2021 at the Carriage House at Beaconsfield.

ATTENTION ANGLERS With angling season right around the corner, we are looking for photos to be featured in our 2021 Angling Summary. We will be selecting 20-25 photos and will be having a draw for five 2021 angling licenses. A few things to keep in mind: ... - Photos must be taken on PEI (preferably from the 2020 season) - Photos must be submitted by the owner - Submissions are limited to four photos/person (be sure to pick your best shots!) * A parent/guardian must give usage permission if children are featured in any photo submissions Photos can feature trout, salmon, perch, striped bass etc. Special consideration will be given to photos taken in a natural setting (i.e. by the water). Please submit your photos to [email protected] We will accept photos until February 19, 2021.

Did you participate in the 2021 Winter Perch Fishery? If so, your logbook needs to be returned as soon as possible. The data obtained from these books is vital to decisions into the future of this great winter fishery!

The Hillsborough River Association is hosting two public events this January. On Tuesday January 26, 2021, Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust will speak on Marine Mammals Around Prince Edward Island. This event will be held in the Carriage House at Beaconsfield at 7 pm. On Thursday, January 28, 2021, the public is invited to learn more about storm surge implications for parts of the Hillsborough River watershed . This event will be held at Donagh School beginning at 7 pm.... Space is limited and COVID 19 restrictions are in place. Please consult the posters for more information on these events.

The electronic version of the 2021 Angling Summary is now available on the Angling Information and Resource page. The print version should be out soon. So good luck and good fishing!

Just reminder that as of March 15, 2021, Burning Permits are required for all outdoor burning operations. You can get a Domestic Burning Permit free of charge on line or by calling you local forest district office and making an appointment to pick one up.

These territorial or courtship displays are a rarity to see! Unfortunately for this juvenile male ruffed grouse, it is far too late in the season for this female to humour his advances. Looking at those long raised neck feathers (ruff), you can really understand where their name came from. Video taken December 4, 2020 in Cardigan, PE.

The Souris & Area branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation posted this beautiful footage of a wintry Island river. We hope you all enjoy the peace and tranquility

Today we collected this Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) to be necropsied at AVC. Although heaviest of all bony fish - this one weighed in at just over 300 lbs. Fun facts: their food of choice is jellyfish and they can host up to 40 different species of parasites. Yum!

Public Assistance Request: For generations, goose hunting has been a source of recreation and food for many Islanders. Some hunters remove just the breast meat from their geese and leave the remainder behind - sometimes in large piles. When people find these piles it creates a sense of waste and a feeling that many hunters disrespect wildlife. ... We know that the vast majority of Island hunters also find this practice repugnant. PEI Conservation Officers are asking for the public's help with any information on Canada Geese that were illegally dumped in the Earnscliffe area. This is an active investigation so if you have any information please call 902-368-4884 or submit online at https://eservices.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/201 (can submit anonymously). This practice stains the image of all hunters and weakens public support for the future of this activity. Your support is appreciated,

An update on the eagle that was shot last month.

The expression "Busy as a beaver' has a certain amount of truth. Our trail Cam spotted this beaver out for a walk or maybe a delicious evening tree snack at around 10 pm last April,

It is that time of year when Atlantic salmon are making their way into a number of PEI rivers to spawn. Recently, Gordie Foster had some luck while fishing for salmon on the Morell River. A reminder that the extended angling season for Atlantic salmon in the Morell River and the Mill River ends on October 31. However, the extended season for rainbow trout ends on November 30 so there are still lots of opportunities to get out fishing.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE REQUEST Conservation Officer's with Justice and Public Safety are looking for information from the Public on the shooting of a Bald Eagle in the York / Covehead Road area. On Saturday October 24th a Conservation Officer received a complaint of an injured Bald Eagle in York. With the help of the complainant the Eagle was captured and taken to the Atlantic Veterinarian College for assessment. A radiograph indicated the Bald Eagle had been shot and it is curre...ntly undergoing treatment at AVC for its wounds. If you have any information on this shooting please call 902-368-4884 or you can report to princeedwardisland.ca/reportpoaching The shooting of non migratory birds such as Eagles, Hawks, Owls, Shorebirds, Seagulls is prohibited under Federal and Provincial legislation.