With the hunting season just around the corner, Fish and Wildlife officers want to remind the public to keep an eye out for any suspicious or illegal hunting activity.
Call the 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 to notify an officer of any such activity.
Fish and Wildlife officers encourage the public to familiarize themselves with the hunting and fishing regulations in the area. You can find them online at albertaregulations.ca.
While ethical hunters are people who care about our province's fish and wildlife, and hunt with respect for the measures that are in place to conserve these species, poachers break these laws and take our natural resources for granted.
Alberta's fish and wildlife don't belong to any one person, and that is something poachers seem to forget.
Please play a role in protecting fish and wildlife resources and the natural surroundings in your community by observing the activity around you.
The Report A Poacher line can be used to report suspicious hunting and fishing activity, dangerous wildlife encounters as well as serious public land abuse.
Any personal information can remain confidential, and the caller can always remain anonymous. Furthermore, callers may be eligible for a cash reward for the information they provide.
Illegal hunting activities to look out for include:
hunting out of season
hunting at night
hunting on private land without permission
exceeding bag limits
selling wildlife or fish illegally
hunting in a dangerous manner (while intoxicated, too close to occupied buildings or shooting from roadways)
using illegal gear
When you call the Report a Poacher line, please be ready to provide as many details as you can. The following information will go a long way towards helping officers apprehend the suspect:
date, time and location of the event
details about the violation
description of the people
licence plate number of the vehicle
distinguishing details about the vehicle make, model, colour and any dents or stickers
Every year, Fish and Wildlife officers issue approximately 2,000 to 2,500 enforcement actions for poaching offences under the Wildlife Act and thousands more for fisheries violations.
If you see anything suspicious—pick up the phone. You could be making all the difference.
- Darren McInnes is a Sundre-Olds Fish and Wildlife officer
