poaching – Page 7 – Syndication Server

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

Rare white deer spotted in Wisconsin; can it be hunted?

A rare white deer was photographed in Wisconsin days before Saturday’s start of the gun deer-hunting season, which caused some to become concerned.

A rare white deer was photographed in northern Wisconsin just days before Saturday’s start of hunting season, which caused some to become concerned about the animal’s welfare.

Tracy Weese captured the image and it was shared to Facebook last Tuesday by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office.

“An incredible sight to see here in Vilas County, a beautiful albino buck!” the agency wrote. “This majestic creature was spotted in the greater Boulder Junction area.”

One of the top comments reads, “It is truly magnificent to see. I would hope any hunter seeing this would NOT shoot it. It is so much more beautiful alive than on your wall.”

https://www.facebook.com/VilasCountySO/posts/2721769924741678

The gun hunting season for whitetail deer opened Saturday and runs through Nov. 29. Several comments on the Sheriff’s Office post were in reference to hunting and whether this buck is fair game.

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While Wisconsin does not allow the harvesting of true albino or leucistic deer (all white but without pink eyes), a few comments pertained to brown markings on a hind leg and the head of the buck in the photo.

Despite those markings, the deer in the photo is protected, Sarah Hoye, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, told FTW Outdoors.

Hoye provided the state regulation: “Albino and white deer which have a coat of all white hair except that the hair on the tarsal glands, head or parts of the head may be a color other than white [are protected]. “White hair that has been discolored or stained by blood, soil or similar materials shall continue to be considered white hair.”

Tarsal glands are located on the inside of a deer’s hind legs and the coloration on the deer in the photo is likely caused by staining from those glands. The faint brown markings on the buck’s head might have been dirt or dried blood from the deer rubbing velvet off its antlers.

In any case, the deer is off-limits, but that does not necessarily mean it is safe.

Last year in Wisconsin, a hunter shot and killed an albino deer and subsequently turned himself in, claiming that he had fired after seeing only the brown of the deer’s head, before realizing the rest of the animal was white.

The hunting website, Wide Open Spaces, found fault with the hunter’s reasoning and added: “The remains of this deer were sent to a local taxidermist to be put on display to help other local hunters understand the difference between and albino and typical whitetail deer.”

–Image courtesy of Tracy Weese

Serial poacher appears on the loose in Oregon

Oregon wildlife officials appear to be hunting a serial poacher, and are using a K9 officer named Buck to sniff out clues.

The crimes are being committed in Lane County, and poaching victims include a black bear that had been decapitated, and several elk and deer that were left to waste.

“This is the worst I’ve ever seen,” Josh Wolcott, a Senior Trooper with Oregon State Police, stated in a news release issued Friday. “Things are happening all over Lane County right now. Every day is a new report.”

Wolcott and Buck, a yellow lab and the state’s only K9 officer, have been traveling to poaching sites where the dog can sniff evidence such as shell casings and gunpowder, and detect human scent.

But State Police and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are seeking public information that might reveal a suspect’s name or vehicle description.

The black bear carcass, discovered on private property outside Veneta, was missing its head, claws, and portions of meat. It might also have been missing its gall bladder.

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(Poachers sometimes kill bears for their gall bladders, which bring a high black-market price in Asian markets, where they’re sold for medicinal purposes.)

A partial list of animals that were poached was provided by the ODFW:

A black bear discovered on Roseburg Forest Products property outside of Veneta. The bear was likely poached about Oct 13. The head, claws, portions of backstrap meat and portions of leg meat were removed. The remainder of the bear was left to waste.
A doe deer discovered on National Forest Property near Fall Creek. The deer was likely poached on or about Oct 14. No meat was taken; the doe was left to waste.
A doe deer discovered along US Forest Service Road 2118 near Hills Creek Reservoir. The deer was likely poached on Oct 14 or 15. No meat was taken; the doe was left to waste.
A buck deer discovered on private property near Lowell. The deer was likely poached during the night of Oct 15 or early morning hours of Oct 16. No meat was taken; the buck was left to waste.
A spike buck deer discovered near High Pass Road. The buck was likely poached on or about Oct 16. The buck was field-dressed and left to waste.
A doe discovered in the Veneta area. It was likely poached on or about Oct 18.

Many of the carcasses were discovered after calls to the state’s Turn in Poachers (TIP) line, and it remains unclear whether the list has grown during the investigation. But authorities are exasperated and hopeful for leads.

Said ODFW Wildlife Division Administrator Doug Cottam:

“There are available and inexpensive opportunities to legally harvest a deer or bear to eat in Oregon. There is no excuse for poaching. I am very concerned about people who kill wild animals just to satisfy their desire to kill something.”

–Black bear and elk images are generic

Wolf poacher lands in jail, loses hunting privileges for life

A Michigan man accused of several wildlife violations, including the poaching of 18 gray wolves, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail as part of a plea agreement.

Kurt Johnston Duncan, 56, also will lose hunting and trapping privileges permanently in Michigan and all 48 states that are members of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

Duncan, of Pickford, pleaded guilty on Sept. 24 to seven crimes, including three counts of illegal take and the possession of wolves; three counts of illegal take and possession of bald eagles, and one count of illegal commercialization of a protected species (wolf).

Additionally, Chippewa County District Court Judge Eric Blubaugh sentenced Duncan to pay $27,000 as reimbursement for the animals he killed, and $9,240 in court fees.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources described the case as “historical” for the agency and state in a news release issued Wednesday.

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Gary Hagler, Chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division, added: “We hope this poaching case acts as a deterrent to criminals for committing future wildlife crimes such as this.

“Our officers did an excellent job working as a team and building this investigation so it could move quickly through the criminal justice system.”

The months-long investigation of Duncan identified 125 wildlife misdemeanor crimes involving other animals, including deer, bobcat, and turkeys.

Duncan was ordered to forfeit all items, including firearms and snares, seized during the execution of search warrants.

–Generic gray wolf images are courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Anglers nabbed with illegal striped bass haul, face steep fines

Two New Jersey anglers face possible fines of more than $12,000 apiece after being apprehended in possession of 66 undersize striped bass.

Two New Jersey anglers face possible fines of more than $12,000 apiece after being apprehended recently while in possession of 66 undersize Atlantic striped bass.

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife announced the March 30 bust Tuesday, saying the unidentified men were arrested by Conservation Police after returning to a private dock after an all-night fishing spree off Atlantic City.

“Earlier in the evening, they drew attention to themselves when officers observed them running their vessel at high rates of speed from various fishing locations under the cover of darkness and fog without any navigation lights,” NJDFW stated in a news release.

“Despite the conditions, and losing sight of the vessel on multiple occasions, officers utilized their intimate knowledge of the area to relocate and ultimately inspect the vessel.”

On the vessel were gross over-limits of fish that were too small to be legally harvested. State regulations (since changed) allowed for the take of one fish from 28 inches to less than 43 inches, and one fish 43 inches or greater per person.

The 66 striped bass measured between 13 and 24 inches.

The NDFW stated that undersize and over-limit violations “carry a penalty of $100 per fish/per violation, adding up to a potential of $12,800 in penalties for each angler.”

The men also were charged with unsafe vessel operation and operating a power boat without a valid registration or appropriate safety gear.

Their fishing gear was seized for evidence and might be permanently confiscated “due to the severity of the violations.”

–Image courtesy of the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Poacher of trophy deer faces felony, big fine by less than an inch

A man in Utah was charged with a felony for illegally killing a deer, whose antler spread measurement made a huge difference in restitution.

A 29-year-old man was charged with a felony after he was discovered having illegally killed a mule deer whose antler spread was a half-inch longer than the minimum length used for restitution for a Utah trophy deer.

In the Fifth District Court in Salt Lake City, Ethan Lebaron was charged with wanton destruction of protected wildlife by using spotlights at night to kill the deer, in this case a third-degree felony. He was also charged with a tagging requirement violation, a class B misdemeanor, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced. Charges are still being considered for the two men who were with Lebaron.

A preliminary hearing for Lebaron is scheduled for March 24. His initial court appearance was Feb 4.

A buck whose antler spread measures 24 inches or more makes it a trophy and illegally killing one a felony-level offense. It calls for a minimum restitution of $8,000. Lebaron’s deer measured 24.5 inches. Had it been under 24 inches, it would have been a Class A misdemeanor and the restitution would have been a minimum of $400.

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“Because Utahans value wildlife so highly, convicted poachers face steep consequences,” the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources states on its website. “In addition to paying fines and restitution, poachers may also face jail time, the confiscation of hunting equipment and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges in multiple states.”

Lebaron was discovered by conservation officers using archery equipment and a spotlight to shoot and kill a buck deer near Quichapa Canyon in Iron County at around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 20.

A witness had called the UTIP hotline to report seeing spotlights in the dark because it was archery deer hunting season and the witness worried illegal hunting was occurring. Hunting deer at night is illegal, as is wasting game.

Two conservation officers arrived on scene and found three men and the dead deer. Because the animal had not been field dressed, the meat had spoiled and was unable to be donated.

Photo courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

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