poaching – Page 6 – Syndication Server

Woman fined $60,000 for feeding bears in ‘precedent-setting’ case

A resident of Whistler, Canada, has been fined $60,000 for attracting and feeding produce to bears throughout the summer of 2018.

A resident of Whistler, Canada, has been fined $60,000 for attracting and feeding bears throughout the 2018 summer.

The penalty levied against Zuzana Stevikova, who was sentenced last week in North Vancouver Provincial Court, is the highest imposed under the Wildlife Act in British Columbia.

Three bears that routinely visited the area were euthanized because they had become habituated as a result of illegal feeding and posed a safety threat.

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According to a Conservation Officer Services news release, the agency launched an investigation in July 2018 after receiving an anonymous tip. Weekly purchases by Stevikova included up to 10 cases of apples, 50 pounds of carrots and 15 cases of eggs, according to the COS.

Visiting black bears exhibited no fear of humans and had become so conditioned to non-natural food that they were deemed ineligible for rehabilitation or relocation.

“The primary concern of the COS is public safety,” COS Sgt. Simon Gravel stated in the news release. “Illegally feeding or placing attractants to lure dangerous wildlife, such as bears, is an extremely dangerous activity. Once bears learn to associate humans with food, it creates a public safety risk.”

Because of the substantial penalty – most of the $60,000 will benefit the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation – the case was described as “precedent setting.”

–Black bear images are generic

Poacher fishing in rowboat caught in the act by undercover officer

The man received several citations, but several online commenters said it wasn’t enough, suggesting what should’ve happened to the boat.

A man in a rowboat in Discovery Bay was caught fishing illegally and was cited for numerous violations by an undercover officer with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police.

This certainly pleased commenters on the WDFWP Facebook page where the news about the incident was reported—with the man’s actions drawing the public’s wrath—but several people made it known that the citations weren’t enough, saying his boat should have been confiscated.

Sgt. Kit Rosenberger was patrolling Discovery Bay within Marine Area 6 (connected to the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Olympic Peninsula) when he observed the man fishing in a rowboat near the mouth of Snow Creek.

The surrounding streams only have wild runs of Coho salmon, so Rosenberger surmised that any salmon the man retained were likely wild Coho and thus illegal.

Rosenberger observed the man catch and keep four salmon in an area where the limit was two hatchery Coho.

Wearing a cover coat and carrying a fishing rod, Rosenberger hiked a distance to the beach near where the man was rowing toward some waterfront houses. When he was within earshot of the man, Rosenberger removed his coat, identified himself and ordered the man to shore. He asked him how fishing was. The man replied, “I got a couple.”

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“The man was found to have unlawfully retained five wild Coho, none of which were recorded on his catch card,” the WDFWP stated. “The man was using illegal fishing gear (barbed treble hook), and did not have any safety equipment in the vessel.

“The man will have charges referred against him in court for seven gross misdemeanors (over limit of salmon, salmon caught with illegal gear, retention of five wild salmon closed area), in addition he will be cited with five infractions for failing to record his salmon, and not having a lifejacket. Sgt. Rosenberger contemplated seizing the man’s boat even knowing he would have had to carry it a considerable distance back to his patrol truck.”

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Most commenters on Facebook praised Rosenberger for catching the poacher and voiced their disgust with the poacher, and several made it known that Rosenberger should have done more than issue citations.

“Nice job. But you should have taken his boat too,” one wrote.

“Nice job Kit! I would have helped you carry the rowboat,” another wrote.

“Should have taken the boat because I betcha he will be back at it this weekend,” another stated.

Other reactions were similar:

“Complete disregard for the law…should have seized everything.”

“Good job. Take their boat next time…and gear.”

“He could have called any of us for help carrying that rowboat! Great work.”

“This guy will more likely than not again be out in that boat to get more fish illegally–should have taken the boat and made the guy help carry it to your vehicle–no sympathy or empathy for the guy fishing at all–he was stealing fish–aka poaching–good job by the officer.”

Many also called for the justice system to level hefty fines and not just give a slap on the wrist.

Photo courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police.

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Fishermen from Canada busted for crabbing in U.S. waters

Fishermen from Canada face criminal charges after they were found illegally fishing in U.S. waters and in possession of 260 Dungeness crabs.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police announced Monday that officers on night patrol near the U.S.-Canada border observed a vessel with crab pots on its deck operating without navigational lights.

The unnamed fishermen claimed their boat wouldn’t start and that a southerly drift carried them into U.S. waters. But the drift was northerly during the vessel inspection.

https://www.facebook.com/WDFWPolice/posts/4500176783373230

The crabs, 40 of them undersized, were seized as evidence.

The WDFW Police, which did not mention the day of the bust, stated in a news release:

“The suspects must have forgotten that they told officers that their engine was broken because they sped back to Canada as soon as the vessels parted ways. Multiple criminal charges will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.”

Florida traffic stop uncovers poached lobsters, drugs, and cash

Police in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle.

Police in Florida arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, marijuana, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle.

Miami residents Lazaro Rolando Martinez and Edward Franklin Mora, both 27, were jailed Sunday night after a Florida Keys traffic stop led to the unusual discovery.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Martinez was charged with driving an unregistered vehicle, possession of Alprazolam without a prescription, possession of 38.5 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia and THC oil.

Martinez also was cited for possession of 23 undersized lobsters and 31 lobsters over the daily bag limit. A total of 37 lobsters were discovered in buckets in the back of the truck.

Mora was charged for possession of 114.8 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and THC oil.

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The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office described the bust in a news release:

“The case began at approximately 11:30 p.m. when Deputy Jorge Moreno stopped a northbound black Ford F-150 pickup truck on U.S. 1 at Mile Marker 86 after 911 Communications Specialists informed him the truck came back as not being registered and the tag that was attached as not being assigned to the truck. The truck was emitting a strong odor of marijuana.

“The driver, Martinez, handed another Deputy a mason jar of marijuana as well as THC oil vape pen. The front passenger, Mora, also produced a mason jar with marijuana. A search ensued and $3,590 in cash was found in Martinez’s possession. Additional marijuana and baggies were found inside the truck which Martinez and Mora each claimed ownership.”

Only six of the 37 lobsters were still alive. All 37 were “returned to the water.”

Minnesota bear poacher gets 15-month prison sentence

A Minnesota man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 months in prison for wildlife trafficking and poaching a 700-pound black bear while trespassing on Indian land.

A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for wildlife trafficking and illegally killing a 700-pound black bear while trespassing on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.

Brett James Stimac, 41, of Brainerd, was sentenced Wednesday in St. Paul by Judge Susan Richard Nelson. Stimac, who removed the bear’s head and left the carcass to rot, also was fined $9,500, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Court documents show that Stimac, on Sept. 1, 2019, trespassed onto the reservation and shot the bear near a trash dump with archery gear.

He returned the next day and captured an image showing himself posing with the carcass, which he shared via social media. (Click here to view the image.)

Stimac then removed the bear’s head, which he delivered to a taxidermist outside Brainerd.

Black bears have cultural significance to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. Hunting by non-Indians is not permitted.

The investigation was conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, the Red Lake Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

–Black bear image atop this post is generic

Is there a serial grizzly bear poacher on the loose in Idaho?

Authorities in Idaho are seeking help in locating the person who illegally shot and killed a grizzly bear last month, leaving its cub to die.

According to Idaho Fish and Game the bear was shot multiple times near the Pole Bridge Campground in Island Park between March 15-23.

It was the third killing of a grizzly bear in the same general area during the past eight months, and all three cases remain under investigation.

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Grizzly bears are protected in Idaho by state and federal law.

A reward of $40,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and a conviction in the most recent case.

“The loss of a reproductive female grizzly is a real tragedy,” Conservation Officer Doug Peterson said in a news release issued Monday. “Someone out there knows what happened to this bear and we are asking them to come forward and share that information with us.”

Idaho Fish and Game located the carcass after receiving a mortality signal from the bear’s GPS collar. Biologists visited momma bear’s den and found a 6- to 8-week-old cub “that also perished as a result of her death.”

The $40,000 reward is being offered by Citizens Against Poaching ($5,000), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ($5,000), and various NGOs ($30,000).

Idaho Fish and Game is asking anyone with information that might prove helpful in solving these cases to call its Upper Snake Regional Office 208-525-7290, the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, or to submit details online. Callers can remain anonymous.

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Blow darts to kill deer? Oregon poaching case takes ‘cruel turn’

Authorities in Oregon are hopeful that a $1,000 reward will help lead to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for killing and injuring mule deer with blow darts.

Authorities in Oregon are hopeful that a $1,000 reward will help lead to an arrest for the killing and injuring of mule deer with blow darts.

At least two deer have died and three others were injured after being struck with blow darts during the past four months in Burns County.

Hunting large animals with blow darts is illegal in part because darts kill slowly over time, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife explained Tuesday in a news release.

“Either the wound will lead to an infection, or if the stomach or intestines are punctured, the deer will die, but it will take a while, and it will be painful,” said ODFW biologist Rod Klus.“It takes a deer anywhere from days to weeks to die from infection.”

Deer shot with blow dart. Credit: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

On Feb. 13, acting on a tip, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Troopers discovered a doe “in failing health” with a dart in her side. She was subsequently euthanized.

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On Nov. 6, 2020, Troopers found a fawn carcass in the same area with a dart in its neck.

From November through February three other mule deer were discovered carrying darts in their bodies. They were sedated and released after the darts had been surgically removed.

The Oregon Hunters Assn. this week offered the $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or citation.

Said the group’s chairman, Fred Walasavage: “It is no secret that mule deer populations continue to be on a decline in Oregon. Granted, there are many factors such as habitat loss, road kills, and predation. But when it comes to intentionally poaching wildlife, that’s where OHA members draw the line.”

Added Yvonne Shaw of the ODFW’s Stop Poaching Campaign: “Poaching steals natural resources from all Oregonians. In this case, poaching takes a cruel turn. Thankfully, residents in Burns are quick to alert OSP Troopers by calling the TIP Line. Let’s hope they find whoever is doing this.”

Klus expressed concern that more mule deer will turn up with darts in their bodies unless the investigation takes a positive turn. The ODFW TIP Line text and phone numbers are *OSP (677) and 800-452-7888. Email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov.

–Top and bottom images are generic

Suspected abalone poachers caught after pursuit on jetty

Two men were apprehended and cited for the unlawful take and possession of abalone last Saturday after a pursuit on a Southern California jetty.

Two men were apprehended and cited for the unlawful take and possession of abalone last Saturday after a brief pursuit on a Southern California jetty.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer and Long Beach Police Department officer, on joint nighttime patrol, became suspicious when they spotted silhouettes of the men on a Long Beach Harbor jetty.

The CDFW officer was dropped from a boat onto the jetty and approached the men, who began to run, according to an agency news release issued Thursday.

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With the help of a police air unit, the unidentified men were found hiding in the rocks and in possession of 16 green and pink abalone. The Los Angeles Port Police also assisted in the effort.

“This is a perfect example of mutual aid cooperation allowing us to create a force multiplier in order to protect our precious resources,” said David Bess, CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of the Law Enforcement Division. “This joint patrol effort allowed us to apprehend these suspected poachers who were targeting abalone, a protected species south of the Golden Gate for more than 23 years.”

Abalone have been protected south of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge since 1997, after a near collapse of the population. A statewide ban was imposed in 2017 because of the continued decline of red abalone “mostly due to environmental stressors,” the CDFW stated.

The men were cited for 16 counts related to the unlawful take of protected wildlife. The abalone, still alive and deemed “survivable,” were placed back into the ocean.

–Image showing the seized abalone is courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Hunters boost reward in ‘thrill-kill’ elk poaching case

Oregon hunting groups have increased the reward to $3,000 for information leading to an arrest related to the recent poaching of three elk near the town of Sisters.

Oregon hunters have increased the reward to $3,000 for information leading to an arrest related to the recent poaching of three elk near the town of Sisters.

In late October, poachers killed a bull elk, spike elk, and cow elk, all of which were mostly left to waste.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in a news release issued Wednesday, said two of the elk were entirely left to waste “in a blatant demonstration of thrill-kill.”

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The bull elk had its head and shoulders removed, likely for a trophy mount.

All three elk were believed to have been killed in the same general area at the same time “on or about Oct. 28.”

This week the reward grew to $3,000 after new donations totaling $2,500 were made by four chapters of the Oregon Hunters Assn.

The elk were discovered after Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Troopers received a tip by a hunter who discovered the cow carcass on Oct. 30. The hunter had been scouting the Dry Canyon area.

Troopers also discovered the bull elk carcass, minus the antlered head and shoulders. Two days later Troopers found the spike elk carcass – a young male with an unbranched antler – after receiving a tip on the state’s Turn in Poachers (TIP) Line.

Although elk-hunting season was open at the time, leaving animals to waste is a crime in Oregon.

OSP Troopers are seeking public input in their attempt to solve the case. The elk were poached near Highway 126 and Quail Tree Drive.

–Elk image is generic

Hunters face charges after illegal killing of albino deer

Three Maryland hunters have been charged with the illegal hunting of deer, including an albino deer that was shot from the rear seat of a vehicle.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, after concluding its investigation, identified the suspects as Jeremy Hoalcraft, 18, of Oakland; David Georg, 29, of Swanton, and Jordan Dawson, 22, of Deer Park.

The men are charged with killing multiple deer in Garrett County in November and early December. But at the center of the investigation was the shooting of an antlerless albino deer from a vehicle in a private field and leaving the carcass to waste.

In a news release issued Thursday, the MDNR stated that the suspects admitted to police that they were searching for deer near Blakeslee when they spotted the albino deer.

“Hoalcraft then used a rifle to shoot the albino deer from the rear seat of the vehicle,” the MDNR stated. “The albino deer reportedly ran a few feet before it fell and died.”

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Hoalcraft then passed the rifle to Dawson, who fired at other deer. The men drove away, leaving the deer to waste.

It turned out that Dawson’s hunting privileges had already been revoked because of a previous conviction; he was banned from possessing guns and ammunition.

The MDNR described the charges in the news release:

Dawson was charged with hunting antlerless deer during closed season, hunting from a vehicle, loaded weapon in a vehicle, hunting without written permission, driving without a license, driving while suspended, driving while revoked, possession of a rifle after conviction of a disqualifying crime, and illegal possession of ammunition. He faces up to $10,500 in fines and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
Hoalcraft was charged with hunting antlerless deer during closed season, hunting from a vehicle, possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle, hunting without written permission, and removal of deer parts prior to reporting the harvest to the Department. He faces up to $7,500 in fines.
Georg was charged with aid-and-abet hunting deer during closed season, aid-and-abet hunting from vehicle, and hunting without written permission. He faces up to $4,500 in fines.

–Albino deer image is generic, courtesy of Grayson Smith/USFWS; second image shows Maryland DLNR police