Conservation officers investigated after being tipped off about a bear that died after being caught in a snare.
Newswatch StaffJun 1, 2026 10:00 AM
THUNDER BAY — Two residents of the Kaministiquia area both received fines for violating Ontario fur trapping regulations.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reports that in June 2025 it received a tip regarding a dead black bear located in the bush off Waverley Road, west of Thunder Bay.
Conservation officers responded to the tip and located a deceased and decayed adult bear.
The animal had been caught by the neck and did not survive.
The ensuing investigation led the officers to a snare originally set by Christopher MacLean for wolves, which had not been removed at the end of the trapping season.
They also located a snare set by MacLean that had caught a wolf which was subsequently abandoned.
Officers further discovered a snare set by Douglas Stefak for lynx, which was still active during the closed season.
The MNR determined that all the snares had been set during the previous 2024 trapping season.
After pleading guilty to unlawfully trapping a black bear and unlawfully abandoning a wolf pelt, MacLean was fined $4,500 by a justice of the peace in Thunder Bay earlier this year.
Stefak — the licensed holder of the trapline area — was fined $1,200 after pleading guilty to unlawfully trapping lynx during the closed season and failing to ensure compliance by his licensed helper, MacLean.
In addition to the fines, both individuals are required to implement a logbook to track their trapping activities and metal tags will be attached to each of their traps or snares to help prevent a recurrence of unlawful trapping.
Members of the public can report any natural resource problem or violation through the MNR TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.