Wilderness reserve users reminded of mandatory entry permits

The Minister of Environment and Conservation, Tom Osborne, today reminded the general public that entry permits are mandatory for the Avalon and Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserves. Minister Osborne also advised that winter patrols of the wilderness reserves by enforcement personnel are ongoing and users should have their entry permit on them at all times while in a reserve.

"The public are also reminded that snowmobiling is prohibited in the Avalon Wilderness Reserve and only permitted in the portion of the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve outside the caribou winter range," said the minister. "As well, the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) is prohibited within both wilderness reserves. All rules and regulations pertaining to our wilderness reserves are outlined on the entry permit."

Minister Osborne noted that a number of activities take place in our reserves like bird watching, sightseeing and nature photography, and said that the information obtained through user permits plays an important role in the protection and management of the reserves.

Entry permits are free of charge and can be obtained at a variety of locations around the province as listed below. For more information on entry permits or activities that are permitted within reserves, please call (709) 635-4520 or e-mail parksinfo@gov.nl.ca.

List of locations to obtain wilderness reserve entry permits:

WESTERN AREA
Department of Environment and Conservation
Parks and Natural Areas Division
Glenda Peddle, Statistical Officer
33 Reid�s Lane
Deer Lake, NL A8A 2A3
Phone: (709) 635-4520 or 4528

CENTRAL AREA
Department of Natural Resources
Forest Resources - South Coast District
Dave Parsons, Conservation Officer
P.O. Box 179
Milltown, NL A0H 1W0
Phone: (709) 882-2200

Department of Environment and Conservation
Parks and Natural Areas Division
Notre Dame Provincial Park
Eric Fudge, Park Manager
Box 418, RR #1
Lewisporte, NL A0G 3A0
Phone: (709) 535-2379 or 2411

Department of Natural Resources
Forest Resources - Regional Office
Karen Northcott, Secretary
P.O. Box 2222
Gander, NL A1V 2N9
Phone: (709) 651-2053

EASTERN AREA
Department of Natural Resources
Forest Resources - Bonavista/Burin District
Dan Myers, Conservation Officer
P.O. Box 209
Clarenville, NL A0E 1J0
Phone: (709) 466-7439

AVALON AREA
Department of Environment and Conservation
Parks and Natural Areas Division
Cape St. Mary�s Ecological Reserve
Tony Power, Reserve Manager
General Delivery
St. Bride�s, Placentia Bay, NL A0B 2Z0
Phone: (709) 337-2473 or 338-2061

Department of Environment and Conservation
Parks and Natural Areas Division
Butter Pot Provincial Park
Keith Brown, Park Manager
244 Park Avenue
Mount Pearl, NL A1N 1L1
Phone: (709) 685-1853 or 368-1419

Department of Environment and Conservation
Parks and Natural Areas Division
LaManche Provincial Park
Pat Costello, Park Manager
P.O. Box 70
Avondale, NL A0A 1B0
Phone: (709) 685-1823
(Permits only available during camping season, usually late May to early September)

Department of Natural Resources
Forest Resources - Avalon District
Ken Butler, Conservation Officer
P.O. Box 13036, Paddy�s Pond
St. John�s, NL A1B 3V8
Phone: (709) 729-4180

Department of Natural Resources
Forest Resources � Avalon District
Tom Brinston, Conservation Officer
Cape Broyle, NL A0A 1P0
Phone: (709) 432-2940

Department of Environment and Conservation
Inland Fish and Wildlife Division
Annette Whiteway, Administrative Officer
Building 810, Pleasantville
P.O. Box 8700
St. John�s, NL A1B 4J6
Phone: (709) 729-5384 or 4203

Department of Environment and Conservation
Inland Fish and Wildlife Division
Salmonier Nature Park
Mac Pitcher, Animal Curator
P.O. Box 190
Holyrood, NL A0A 2R0
Phone: (709) 229-7888 or 3912

2005 02 22                       4:10 p.m.