WDFW Enforcement 2009-11 Report

[bigtex]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/pub.php?id=01204

This is a good publication to check out more in-depth info about the WDFW Enforcement Program. It's not really about "stories" about poaching but rather information about the program and changes currently occuring and down the road. The "stories" that everyone likes to hear are in the WDFW Enforcement Quarterly Newsletters. The report use to be annual but is now biennial.

[Dhoey07]

I personally hate those poaching "stories".  Mainly because of the pictures with the enforcement officers posing with their "prize". 

[JLS]

Personally, I love these stories.

[MtnMuley]

How come wdfw has not posted a new quarterly newsletter, since 2010 on there web page?

My exact question.     Can you subscribe to the newsletter?

[Special T]

Just want to follow.

[quadrafire]

This a quote from the publication. Are they serious about the money involved in illegal activity? 


"Our natural resources and their protection are critical to the future economic vitality of our state. In 2006, more than 87 million Americans spent over $120 billion on wildlife-related recreation, nationwide. At the same time, the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts is second only to the money earned by the illegal drug trade in this nation. "

[saylean]

Buahahahha....

What about illegal guns or even illegal human trafficing?! I cant imagine wildlife/parts earns more than either of those.

[Special T]

A self loading log truck can steal $20-40K of timber in one shot. It doesn't take very long for that kind of stuff to ad up.

[grundy53]

Kinda like all the money wildlife viewing brings in...

[JimmyHoffa]

I could believe it.  Seafood especially generates some serious illegal dollars.  And in some places mounts of big deer go for really high amounts.  I recall a story about a guy in PA that had 500 inch elk antlers insured at a value of $515K and they were stolen!

[grundy53]

Guns, stolen cars, identity theft. All would be more common and lucrative I would think.

[quadrafire]

I could believe it.  Seafood especially generates some serious illegal dollars.  And in some places mounts of big deer go for really high amounts.  I recall a story about a guy in PA that had 500 inch elk antlers insured at a value of $515K and they were stolen!

I hadn't thought about seafood. I saw a program a yr or so ago about that. Goeducks were targeted pretty heavily for the asian market.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think it just depends on how they categorize each form of illegal activity....most crimes 80% I once read where somehow drug related. 
An example is when they assign a $ value to animals ($4K for a buck) and then assume a certain number are poached, it could add up since they assume a number equal to legal take is taken illegally.
But I'm with you about wildlife viewing, I think they must really be reaching to get those kinds of numbers.  Some creative accounting.

[bigtex]

This a quote from the publication. Are they serious about the money involved in illegal activity? 


"Our natural resources and their protection are critical to the future economic vitality of our state. In 2006, more than 87 million Americans spent over $120 billion on wildlife-related recreation, nationwide. At the same time, the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts is second only to the money earned by the illegal drug trade in this nation. "

I have heard this from several different sources/states. I have heard 1- Drugs, 2- Wildlife, 3- Guns, as well as 1- Drugs, 2- Guns, 3-Wildlife. So either way the illegal trade in wildlife is still in the top 3.

[Bob33]

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/uswildlife-trade.html#cr