Parks Canada is enforcing a strict prohibition on recreational drones at the Pingo Canadian Landmark near Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, for the 2026 season (May–September) to protect the area’s sensitive environment and wildlife. The move — part of a 2026 “Zero‑Tolerance” enforcement campaign — aims to stop people from flying remote‑controlled cameras over the famous ice‑cored hills, whose ice cores and fragile permafrost can be damaged by unauthorized landings and persistent drone activity. Anyone operating a drone within the landmark boundaries without an approved permit may face law‑enforcement action and fines up to $25,000 (CAD) under the Canada National Parks Act.
The stepped‑up enforcement follows a significant uptick in unauthorized drone flights during the 2025 season that Parks Canada and local officials say disturbed nesting migratory birds and threatened the structural integrity of the pingos. Parks Canada’s regulations make clear that all recreational unmanned aerial vehicles are prohibited in national parks and historic sites — including very small “micro‑drones” that may be exempt from some Transport Canada rules outside park boundaries.
Local leaders and the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, along with stakeholders such as the Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee and the Inuvialuit Land Administration, have expressed concerns that drone noise disrupts traditional activities and the natural quiet of the Arctic. The pingos are culturally significant landmarks for the Inuvialuit and are managed under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.
To help visitors follow the rules, Parks Canada says it will install enhanced signage at popular pull‑outs, boost warden patrols and run public awareness initiatives at the Western Arctic Visitor Centre in Inuvik during the 2026 season. While recreational use is prohibited, commercial tour operators and researchers may apply for permits for specific, authorized uses; permits and authorizations are issued by Parks Canada under the Canada National Parks Act and related regulations.
