The Newfoundland and Labrador government is about to rehire more than two dozen fish and wildlife enforcement officers.

Justice Minister Darin King said most of the jobs will likely be filled by the same people who were laid off when the provincial budget was brought down in March.

Twenty-five people will be rehired to permanently fill vacant positions.

"They're the ones that are getting priority," said King.

"Just this week, I…

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers with the help of DFO and the RCMP have brought a halt to an alleged illegal salmon-netting operation on the Burin Peninsula.

Wildlife officers set up surveillance in the Bay L'Argent area after receiving a number of complaints of poaching. Two people who were arrested are facing a number of charges including the netting and illegal possession of salmon, as well as obstruction.

Two boats and two nets were also seized.

The Provincial Government is looking for your input on the development of a five-year moose management plan for the island. Environment and Conservation has scheduled a series of public meetings starting October 15th at the Sheraton in St John's to discuss how the moose population is currently managed, solicit feedback on future management decisions, and get a better understanding of how the public views the resource. Sessions will also be…

A lynx that escaped Salmonier Nature Park during Tropical Storm Leslie is still on the missing list. The park is closed due to signficant damage caused by the storm on Tuesday.  Fences around animal enclosures were blown down resulting in some moose and caribou getting out during Leslie. They were all returned to their enclosures not long after by park officials.

Two lynx also escaped during the storm, one of which was live trapped later by employees. However, the…

There were a couple of meetings in Glovertown to address the black bear issue in the region and while most of those who attended the sessions were not totally satisfied, they are going to give the government plans a try for a couple of weeks. More than a half a dozen officials from different levels of government met yesterday morning with the residents, and all came to the conclusion the sudden influx of bears can be attributed to the closure of the nearby dump. Glovertown Mayor David…

The Department of Natural Resources is advising residents in Clarenville of a number of black bear sightings in the town.

Residents are encouraged to take appropriate steps to avoid attracting bears into their communities and backyards, where the animals can pose a risk to public safety. This includes the proper storage, collection, and disposal of garbage.

 If anyone encounters a bear, they are advised by the department to remain calm, give the animal space, back away slowly…

Recent black bear sightings in the town of Glovertown has the Department of Environment and Conservation advising the public on how to decrease the likelihood of bear encounters in your area.

Research shows that bears use human-based food sources to add to their regular diet. Although…

A well-known bird biologist is calling it an "extreme" event.  The gannets nesting at Cape St. Mary's have abandoned their chicks for cooler waters and Bill Montevecchi says that's something he's never seen in his 30 years as a scientist.  Guides at the popular bird sanctuary noticed the phenomenon earlier this month when the birds suddenly disappeared. Montevecchi says since then, there have been plenty of gannet sightings off the coast of Labrador and it now appears as though the birds are…

An island outfitter says he's fairly sure the George River Caribou herd is starving to death. A census completed in July shows the Labrador herd at approximately 27,600 animals -- a significant decrease from the 2010 census which indicated there were 74,000 animals. Wayne Holloway says the fundamental problem was the peak population was well beyond the carrying capacity of the land. Holloway told VOCM Open Line with Randy Simms, that given where the numbers are, there shouldn't be a harvest…

Concerns continue regarding the sustainability of the George River Caribou Herd. The Department of Environment and Conservation says a census completed in July shows the herd stands at approximately 27,600 animals -- a significant decrease from the 2010 census which indicated 74,000 animals. Minister responsible, Terry French, says the results of the survey are very concerning and confirm government's fears that we haven't yet seen the bottom of the current decline. The herd's numbers were…

A 32-year old Victoria man will appear in court in November to answer to charges stemming from a frightening incident in Salmon Cove earlier this week.  The man is alleged to have been the driver of an ATV that dragged a Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officer who was attempting to make an arrest for poaching in the Salmon Cove Pond area on Wednesday…

A scary incident for a fishery and wildlife enforcement officer in Salmon Cove, Conception Bay. A group of officers were in the area of a popular trail looking for alleged salmon poachers this morning. Provincial enforcement officers were acting on a tip from Crime Stoppers about poaching around Salmon Cove Pond.

A spokesperson with the Department of Justice says officers were conducting surveillance on the suspect, who is believed to be a man, when one of them approached him in…

Police are busy trying to trap wild dogs on the Port au Port Peninsula, amidst suggestions some of them may have mated with coyotes. For a long time residents of the Port au Port Peninsula have been aware of wild and roaming dogs in the woods. There have been reports of dog packs chasing and harassing moose, and killing livestock. There are even suggestions some of these wild dogs have mated with coyotes and produced offspring. Now, roaming and wild dogs have become a greater problem with…

Low water levels and high water temperatures have forced the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to suspend salmon angling on a number of rivers and brooks in central Newfoundland.

In an announcement made this afternoon, DFO said the closures will take effect on Tuesday one hour after sunset. DFO said the rivers will reopen once conditions improve.

The rivers and brooks impacted include those in or near the communities of Trinity, Gambo, and Port Blandford. Salmon angling has…

Police will conduct an aerial search this morning for a group of five missing hikers near the East Coast Trail between Bay Bulls and the Goulds. Two groups of hikers were reported missing last night, one group was located safe and sound with the help of the Rovers Search and Rescue team. RNC have been in contact with the group…

New thermal imaging camera technology is being credited for catching poachers on the west coast. The Department of Justice says a 20-year-old man was arrested on July 7 for illegal netting at the mouth of Little Barachois Brook in Bay St. George. Wildlife and enforcement officers seized an illegal gill net and 13 Atlantic Salmon weighing about 65 pounds. Officers arrested a 41-year-old man from Stephenville Crossing the next day for illegally netting salmon in coastal waters. The man…

Among the 126 federal public sector workers in this province who received notification this week that their jobs could be affected by upcoming cuts, are Habitat Management employees with DFO.  Public Service Alliance of Canada spokesperson Jeannie Baldwin says it's all part of changes to the Fisheries Act. She says government is…

The Department of Natural Resources has extended the ban on outdoor fires to the island.  Outdoor fires for camping or the burning of brush is now banned right across the province due to dry conditions.  Government says the ban won't be lifted until conditions improve.  

VOCM News.

The provincial government is learning more about the island's caribou population and its predators thanks to a 15.3 million dollar study that is now winding down.  It's been a mystery that has made people scratch their heads since the early 1990's; the once plentiful, native caribou are declining across the island.  Shane Mahoney led members of the media and Minister Terry French into the Middle Ridge area late last week.  Among the discoveries: a kill-site where only fur, a jaw bone and a…

Police are investigating after two hunters shot and killed a dog near Middle Pond on the Southern Shore Highway on Saturday. Jim Owens says he and his 2-year old black Lab, Quacker went for a run in the woods near his home when she got about 30 feet ahead of his ATV on the narrow path. Owens says he lost sight of the dog in a dip and that's when he heard the shot. He told VOCM Nightline with Pete Soucy he approached two …