Department of National Defence fined $10,000 for Species at Risk Act violations in Alberta

July 30, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta – Environment and Climate Change Canada

On July 9, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice, the Department of National Defence was fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to two charges under the Species at Risk Act. Of the $10,000 fine, $9,500 will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund and $500 will be directed to the Receiver General for Canada.

On April 25, 2024, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers received a report regarding the destruction of an active ferruginous hawk nest at Canadian Forces Base Suffield, in Alberta. As part of the report, officers were informed that nest materials, eggs, and tracks from heavy operating equipment were found at the base of a fallen nest platform.

Enforcement officers launched an investigation into the incident which determined that the Department of National Defence had used heavy operating equipment in the area of the fallen nest platform to remove fencing. The investigation also revealed that the incident occurred despite the Department having internal policies and procedures aimed at protecting threatened species on site. During the course of the fence removal work, the nest platform, an active ferruginous hawk’s nest, and three eggs were destroyed, resulting in the loss of developing hawks and violations of subsection 32(1) and section 33 of the Species at Risk Act.

Quick facts

• The ferruginous hawk is the largest hawk in North America. It is listed as threatened under Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act. The Canadian ferruginous hawk population is estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,000 mature individuals, based on surveys specifically targeting nesting ferruginous hawk.
• Threats to ferruginous hawk include loss of nesting sites, reduction in prey availability, disturbance from energy production and agriculture, collisions with vehicles and infrastructure, and climate change and severe weather.
• The Species at Risk Act provides legal protection of Canadian wildlife species identified as extirpated, endangered, or threatened and contributes to the conservation of biological diversity. This Act aims to prevent the extinction of these species and supports their recovery.
• Subsection 32(1) of the Species at Risk Act prohibits killing, harming, harassing, capturing, or taking an individual of a wildlife species that is listed as an extirpated species, an endangered species, or a threatened species.
• Section 33 of the Species at Risk Act prohibits damaging or destroying the residence of one or more individuals of a wildlife species that is listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, or that is listed as an extirpated species if a recovery strategy has recommended the reintroduction of the species into the wild in Canada.
• Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund directs monies received from fines, penalties, court orders, and voluntary payments to projects that will repair environmental damage or benefit the environment. The Fund aims to invest in areas where the environmental damage occurred.

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