Public Reminded to Avoid Piping Plover Nesting Sites
The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture is reminding the public to be vigilant when in the vicinity of beaches along the west coast and southwest coast of the province.
The nests and chicks of the endangered Piping Plover are destroyed each year as a result of damage caused by ATVs and this activity threatens the recovery of these birds.
Last year there were only 12 breeding pairs of Piping Plover in Newfoundland and Labrador and fewer than 160 pairs in Eastern Canada as a whole.
Several reports have been received about increased ATV traffic along several beaches where it is currently illegal to ride motorized vehicles.
The following locations are known nesting sites for Piping Plover and have signage posted advising ATV usage is not permitted.
Grand Bay West:
Big Barachois Beach
Bottles Barachois Beach
Second Beach
Short Sand Beach
Osmond’s Beach
Stephenville Crossing:
Black Bank Beach
Stephenville Crossing Beach
ATV use is also prohibited in the following provincial parks and reserves where nesting Piping Plover is located:
T. Cheesman Provincial Park
Codroy Valley Provincial Park
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Big Barasway Wildlife Reserve