Scarborough resident fined for illegally hunting snapping turtles

A snapping turtle is seen in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Nature Conservancy of Canada

Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources has fined a Scarborough man after he was found to be illegally hunting snapping turtles in the town of Dorchester.

In a release on Friday, the ministry said the Ontario Court of Justice heard that from July 15, 2023, to Aug. 5, 2023, members of the public found several snapping turtles attached to fishing lines at Dorchester Mill Pond Conservation Area.

On Aug. 4, a conservation officer reportedly found a man at the conservation area who was in possession of equipment used to hunt turtles, according to the ministry.

A tote was seized and samples taken from the tote were confirmed to contain snapping turtle DNA.

The case was heard in a London, Ont., court on November 6, 2025, and the ministry said Ying Wen Chen pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting game reptile without a licence.

He was fined $4,000 and received a court order to forfeit all items seized during the investigation to the Crown.

“Snapping turtles are considered game reptiles, however there is no open season or valid hunting licence for the species in Ontario, meaning it is illegal to hunt snapping turtles at any time in the province,” the ministry said.