Our natural area in Georgetown, PE has recently been subject to a variety of illegal and unwanted activity, including trees being cut down, bonfires, camping, and significant activity by motorized vehicles (dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles). This property is protected under the PEI Natural Areas Protection Act (NAPA) – which disallows these activities due to the negative impacts on flora and fauna.

To reduce these harmful actions, as well as monitor for wildlife, one of our conservation guardians set up four trail cameras on July 19th. When our conservation guardian went to collect the trail cameras to check the footage, three of the trail cameras were missing (presumed stolen), with the remaining trail camera turned to face the opposite direction. When he checked the footage, he found that within an hour of setting up the trail camera dirt bikes appeared on the trail, and by later that afternoon our trail camera had been turned off. In addition, our natural area signs had been removed and destroyed.

Our team at Island Nature Trust is very disappointed by these actions. We work hard to protect natural areas across the Island for the benefit of both Islanders and wildlife; to see this blatant disrespect for our natural area and property is quite disheartening.

We rely on our conservation guardians to be our ‘feet on the ground’ as we work to protect and steward over 6,000 acres across PEI with a limited staff. If you live in the Georgetown area and are interested in volunteering as a conservation guardian for this property, we would love to hear from you! If you are interested in helping in other ways, we are seeking donations to cover the cost of replacing signs, cameras and installing motorized vehicle barriers at trail entrances.  

Thank you to all of you who support us and help us work for wildlife!

-Island Nature Trust