OPP concerned as Ontario canola fields damaged by trespassing photographers

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in the central region is out with a warning after authorities were notified of canola fields being damaged in Dufferin County by trespassers trying to capture the perfect picture.

Investigators are pointing to a recent increase in agricultural trespassing “culminating in a serious instance being shared on social media.”

The OPP said that on the Canada Day long weekend, authorities were aware of two occurrences of people stopping on Highway 10 in the Township of Melancthon and entering a canola field to take photos.

Ontario Provincial Police in Dufferin County has seen an increase in agricultural trespassing, “culminating in a serious instance being shared on social media.” Photo: OPP-Central Region/Facebook.

“While canola is beautiful at this time of year, it is a crop,” an OPP spokesperson said.

“It is a large part of plant-based diets and a source of income for our farmers. The potential damage to this crop is valued at $2,000 if only one acre is damaged. It will increase if there was a larger area affected.”

The OPP explained that because crop fields — and in this case, canola fields — cannot legally be protected by fences or signage, entering one either by foot or an off-road vehicle is considered trespassing.

Those found defying regulations will be fined, officers caution.

“If a person damages crops, then a criminal charge of Mischief could be considered by a responding police officer.”

The OPP in Dufferin County says that while officers will monitor the circumstances of these incidents, the most recent case was captured by photo, noting that “a timely phone call” was not made to enforcement.

If anyone witnesses similar incidents in the future, they’re urged to contact the OPP.