173 Etienne Daigle – Quebec, Canada

If you’ve ever wondered what game wardens deal with north of the border, this one delivers. From bear

decoy busts to baby crocodiles in a bunker, “Agent de la faune” Etienne Daigle gives us a front row seat

to wildlife enforcement in Quebec, Canada - and it’s anything but predictable.

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Here’s what we discuss:

 Starting the job at just 20 years old after switching from police academy to game warden

training

 “It’s two totally different jobs” - policing the woods vs the streets

 Quebec wardens enforce fish, game, and trapping laws, not full police powers

 Arresting suspects as a citizen in uniform before turning them over to police

 First posting in Lac Saint-Jean - a remote territory with massive patrol areas

 “People just don’t like bears” due to concerns about moose calves

 His very first case - a bear decoy operation during closed season

 Lying in a ditch as a hunter returns with his family

 Waiting for a second shot to confirm intent

 A plane flying overhead causes the hunter to panic

 Moving the decoy’s head to trigger a reaction

 “Dad, the bear is moving” leads to a second shot

 Officers step in after clear evidence is established

 “He truly thought it was a real bear.”

 Covering areas with 10,000 plus lakes and hours-long patrol drives

 Fishing opportunities - walleye, pike, and lake trout everywhere

 Moose hunting rules - multiple hunters and shared tags required

 “About a $2,500 fine” for illegal harvest

 “The most dangerous animal is a moose with a calf.”

 Transfer to a mining region brings more drug-related cases

 “We are there for wildlife, but we deal with human problems too.”

 Case involving a drug dealer with two baby crocodiles

 Illegal possession of exotic animals without proper permits

 Joint operation with provincial police

 Planning entry into a single-access basement

 Unexpected twist - the suspect’s father answers the door

 Securing the scene and removing the animals safely

 “Drugs and reptiles seem to go together.”

 Roughly 300 officers covering all of Quebec

 Balancing wildlife enforcement with real-world danger

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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