“Chaos machines”: Drone users face hefty fines in national parks
Violators will be charged, be required to appear in court, and could pay fines up to $25,000, according to the Parks Canada website.
Spring tourism is well underway in Canada’s national parks, and that has prompted authorities in Saskatchewan to issue what has become an annual warning:
Leave the drones at home.
“Drones aren’t allowed in the park,” Grasslands National Park officials recently said on Facebook.
“…Why? Because this place isn’t just scenery — it’s home. And to our wildlife, a buzzing drone sounds less like 'cool aerial footage' and more like 'incoming chaos machine'.”
What’s the big deal?
Drones may seem harmless, especially the small ones that are more “toy-like” in nature, but experts say they can cause significant stress to animals.
That's especially true during the sensitive spring season, which involves periods of nesting and calving.
Research has shown that drones can disturb wildlife by triggering fear responses, causing animals to flee, abandon nests, and waste critical energy reserves.
While all animals can be affected by drones, birds are most likely to perceive them as a threat, and are also most likely to get injured in a close encounter.
Violators face steep fines
Parks Canada has strict rules in place that relate to feeding, enticing, or disturbing wildlife in a national park.
Violators will be charged, be required to appear in court, and could pay fines up to $25,000, according to the Parks Canada website.
“All Parks Canada places are 'no drone zones' for recreational use,” Parks Canada says.
“Please leave your drone at home.”
Drone operator charged for colliding with Canadian firefighting plane
Drones can also get in the way of important rescue, conservation, or firefighting efforts.
The latter was the case in January 2025, when a Canadian “Super Scooper” airplane, the Quebec 1, which was combating the devastating Palisades fire in Los Angeles, had to be grounded after it collided with a civilian drone flying in a restricted area.
The airplane - a CL-415 - can hold 7,000 litres of water to dump on wildfires and has a reload time of 14 seconds. The incident happened at a critical time during the fire, taking a powerful resource out of commission when it was most needed.
Peter Tripp Akemann, 57, a wealthy tech executive credited for co-founding the popular video game series Call of Duty, was identified as the owner of the drone and sentenced to serve 14 days in federal prison, followed by 30 days of home detention, and fined approximately $156,000 in restitution, alongside 150 hours of community service in support of Southern California wildfire relief.
Plenty to see at ground level
Grasslands authorities say that while the majestic Prairie views are something to behold, the park’s beauty — and the beauty of all of Canada’s national parks — can be adequately enjoyed at ground level.
“Sunrises, star-filled skies, and those unexpected wildlife moments? They happen just fine from the ground (and they don’t come with a 'please stop chasing me' from a pronghorn),” Grasslands National Park says on Facebook.
“So, keep your feet on the prairie and your drone at home — the views are already sky-high.”
Header image: File photo via Canva Pro.