If you’ve ever wondered what game wardens deal with north of the border, this one delivers. From bear decoy busts to baby crocodiles in a bunker, “Agent de la faune” Etienne Daigle gives us a front row seat to wildlife enforcement in Quebec, Canada – and it’s anything but predictable.
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Here’s what we discuss:
- Starting the job at just 20 years old after switching from police academy to game warden training
- “It’s two totally different jobs” – policing the woods vs the streets
- Quebec wardens enforce fish, game, and trapping laws, not full police powers
- Arresting suspects as a citizen in uniform before turning them over to police
- First posting in Lac Saint-Jean – a remote territory with massive patrol areas
- “People just don’t like bears” due to concerns about moose calves
- His very first case – a bear decoy operation during closed season
- Lying in a ditch as a hunter returns with his family
- Waiting for a second shot to confirm intent
- A plane flying overhead causes the hunter to panic
- Moving the decoy’s head to trigger a reaction
- “Dad, the bear is moving” leads to a second shot
- Officers step in after clear evidence is established
- “He truly thought it was a real bear.”
- Covering areas with 10,000 plus lakes and hours-long patrol drives
- Fishing opportunities – walleye, pike, and lake trout everywhere
- Moose hunting rules – multiple hunters and shared tags required
- “About a $2,500 fine” for illegal harvest
- “The most dangerous animal is a moose with a calf.”
- Transfer to a mining region brings more drug-related cases
- “We are there for wildlife, but we deal with human problems too.”
- Case involving a drug dealer with two baby crocodiles
- Illegal possession of exotic animals without proper permits
- Joint operation with provincial police
- Planning entry into a single-access basement
- Unexpected twist – the suspect’s father answers the door
- Securing the scene and removing the animals safely
- “Drugs and reptiles seem to go together.”
- Roughly 300 officers covering all of Quebec
- Balancing wildlife enforcement with real-world danger
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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