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Spotlight on the Bad Guys


	©Ken Hammond/USDA
	Poachers ignore the law—not to mention ethics.

Poachers kill wildlife anywhere and at any time.

Here are just a few of the recent cases where we worked with state fish and wildlife agencies to offer $2,500 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspected poachers.

In October, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was searching for a poacher responsible for killing a threatened black bear in Osceola National Forest. We offered a reward in the case and we're happy to report that a Jacksonville man admitted to having killed the bear. His court date has not been set but if convicted he could face a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 60 days in jail.
In bittersweet news, one of two endangered California condors who were found with shotgun pellets in their bodies has died of lead poisoning while the other has recovered and been released. "Pinns" was one among the first group of condors released into the wild at Pinnacles National Monument. Veterinarians were unable to remove the lead from his bloodstream and when he died he had lost half of his body weight. The second condor found shot and suffering from lead poisoning was able to make a full recovery and was set free earlier in the month. We contributed to a reward fund that reached over $30,000 for arrest and prosecution of the poacher but no one has been identified yet.
In other news, we offered a reward for arrest and prosecution of poachers who shot and killed three antelopes and fatally-injuring two others with a small-caliber gun in California. One antelope was so badly injured that authorities had to euthanize the animal. We also offered a reward in a case of three elk who were illegally killed in Colorado.
Finally, earlier in the month North Dakota increased penalties for repeat poachers when officials created a crime of "exploitation of wildlife."

Updated May 14, 2009

Websites for State DNR or Game & Fish Departments

The HSUS Helps Throw The Book at Poachers