‘Kite fighting’ banned in Whitby conservation area

Everybody was kite fighting at Heber Downs Conservation Area in Whitby and it was little bit frightening, especially to pets and local wildlife.

Officials at Central Lakes Conservation Authority (CLOCA) would like the participants in the activity to stop.

CLOCA staff and volunteers have been inspecting trails at Heber Downs and collecting kites and kite string – remnants left from kite fighting ‘events.’

Kite fighting is an activity where two or more participants fly kites with the aim of cutting an opponent’s kite string. The ‘losing’ kite and string drifts away, uncontrolled, descending on trails, trees and land. The string used for kite fighting, a post on the Heber Down website said, can be abrasive or chemically treated to enhance the ability to cut the opponent’s string.

“The abandoned string is hazardous because it drifts until it becomes lodged in tree branches or other vegetation, is difficult to see, and can cut people, pets, and wildlife that become entangled in it. As a result, kite fighting is not permitted at any of CLOCA’s conservation areas.”

Visitors who disregard and/or participate in kite fighting in the conservation areas may be subject to fines.

Anyone observing kite fighting activity or abandoned string at Heber Downs or any other CLOCA conservation area is asked to contact CLOCA at (905) 579-0411, by email at [email protected] or by filling out a ‘Report a Concern‘ form.