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Report a Poacher a lifeline for fish and wildlife

With hunting season right around the corner, hunters, anglers and residents of the Bonnyville area are being called on to report suspicious or illegal hunting and fishing practices.
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With hunting season right around the corner, hunters, anglers and residents of the Bonnyville area are being called on to report suspicious or illegal hunting and fishing practices.

Bonnyville Fish and Wildlife Officer Dylan Cummins is urging residents to pick up the phone and call the Report A Poacher line when witnessing hunters and anglers not following Alberta hunting and fishing regulations, dangerous wildlife encounters, and serious public land abuse.

"It's kind of our catch all and be all phone number, for pretty much everything regarding conservation law enforcement and problem wildlife," said Cummins.

When making a call, critical information for callers to include is date, time and location of the event, details of the violation, description of the violator, description of the vehicle involved, and any distinguishing details of the vehicle including license plate, colour, make, model, decals and dents.

All details are imperative when it comes to an investigation, Cummins noted, adding although it may seem insignificant to the resident, it could be significant to officers investigating the call.

Residents should familiarize themselves with the hunting and fishing regulations, and should keep an eye out for suspicious activity, gunfire at night, hunters exceeding bag limits, using illegal gear, hunting on private land without permission, hunting at night, hunting out of season, and selling wildlife or fish illegally.

With only three fish and wildlife officers covering the Bonnyville district, it is important that residents report suspicious or illegal activity, which could help aid in an ongoing investigation.

"The public's help in solving any wildlife cases is the most vital component to our success in capturing people who don't abide by the laws and regulations regarding hunting and fishing. Without those people, we would not be able to apprehend the suspects that we do," said Cummins. "Those people with those eyes and ears are crucial to our success. We cannot possibly be everywhere all the time at the same time."

Typically, after receiving a call, fish and wildlife officers use the information provided to conduct their investigation, so the more information they have to work with the better. One piece of information that can help a great deal is a license plate number.

"We can get the individuals name and we can find out where they live, and sometimes we can even beat them back to the residence and then conduct our investigation from there," explained Cummins.

Gordon Poirier has experienced the benefits of the program first hand, after poachers shot and killed a deer on his property.

A couple of years ago a gun was fired on the Poirier's property. Poirier investigated and saw the vehicle involved, noting the colour and type of vehicle. The next morning his daughter went out to look at the area, and found a trail of blood along the field.

"She reported it to the Report A Poacher line, and that evening, fish and wildlife phoned me and asked me for a description of the vehicle... and they said, 'I think we've got them,'" Poirier said.

This incidence was the first time DNA evidence was used to connect the kill site with the animal killed. Both poachers were charged, and paid about $6,000 in fines between them.

Poirier, past president of the Beaver River Fish and Game Association, said the purchasing of tags and licenses by the anglers and hunters financially supports the Report a Poacher program.

"People have to take ownership of the resource, both fish and wildlife, and when they are doing it legally... that's their resource that they are using. When someone doesn't follow the rules, they're stealing from all of the law abiding people and future generations," Poirier said, adding that is why it is important for everyone to call and report illegal poaching and fishing.

"We are an outdoor community, and a very rural community, and it is helping protect the resources that we have... If nobody reported, and nobody took ownership of the resources, very quickly we would have nothing left."

There is the possibility for those calling in, to receive a reward, depending on the outcome of the investigation and how vital the information may be.

Last year alone, there were 10,375 calls in Alberta to the Report A Poacher line. Of those calls, 2,034 were suspected illegal activity, with 333 charges laid thanks to the help of those callers and the program.

To report a poacher call 1-800-642-3800, and to learn more about Alberta regulations visit albertaregulations.ca.

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