The Humane Society of the United States and The Wildlife Land Trust granted a $1,000 reward to a confidential informant who provided a tip leading to the arrest of a man consequently charged with illegally killing five mule deer in November 2007 near the Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge in Hermiston, Ore.
Senior Trooper Tim Gallaher of the Oregon State Police and lead investigator on the case remarked, "The investigation was at a complete standstill until the reward was issued. The reward helped me to crack the case."
"Poaching is a serious crime that all too often goes unpunished, and we thank enforcement authorities for doggedly pursuing a resolution," said Andrew Page, director of the hunting campaign for The HSUS. "The issuance of this reward is a signal to poachers to think twice before cruelly robbing Oregon's citizens of valued wildlife."
Charges filed against Christopher Michael Allred include: Taking Deer Closed Season (5 counts), Waste of Game Mammal (5 counts), Hunting with the Aid of an Artificial Light (5 counts), Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Criminal Trespass and Offensive Littering.
A second suspect has been identified and additional charges are pending in the case.
Click here to read the Oregon State Police press release.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.
Since 1993 the HSUS Wildlife Land Trust, alone or in partnership with other conservation groups, has participated in the protection of more than 1.8 million acres of wildlife habitat in 36 states and seven foreign countries. On all properties owned by the Trust or protected by the Trust's conservation easement, both here and abroad, we prohibit recreational and commercial hunting and trapping and restrict logging and development. The Trust's commitment to these principles will never change as we continue to assist caring landowners to make their property permanent, safe homes for wildlife.
