Hang them..

[powderburn]

Wildlife officials laid charges earlier this week against several men - including some southern Albertans - for poaching or the illegal sale of wild game. Is this a blip on the screen or an ongoing problem? Sherri Gallant talks with local wildlife officers.

I'll update this on Saturday. It sounds to me like it involved birds of prey, big game animals and fish.

 

[powderburn]

The list of southern Albertans charged with wildlife trafficking offences has grown, as the investigation wraps up from a lengthy undercover operation.

Fish and wildlife officers from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development have charged seven people under the Wildlife Act and the Fisheries Act.

Blair Orr of Fort Macleod, along with a man from Hobbema and another from Wetaskiwin, have all been charged with trafficking in wildlife, specifically birds of prey. A Peace River man was charged with trafficking in fish.

Malcolm James Potts of Brocket, as well as Martin Benjamin Walter and Steven Darrell Walter, both of Pincher Creek, are charged with trafficking in big game and/or birds of prey.

Many of the charges are for counts with maximum penalties of $100,000 or up to two years imprisonment or both. A few charges are for counts with maximum penalties of $50,000 or up to a year imprisonment or both.

"We ran three operations at one time," said Dave Ealey, spokesman for Sustainable Resources in Edmonton.

"One was up north in the Peace River region and that involved walleye trafficking. It was actually related to an earlier investigation we had going on. People are taking the fish illegally for the meat. We've even had the meat show up at restaurants and be served as though it was legitimately caught."

The second investigation centred around Wetaskiwin, Hobbema and Fort Macleod; the third around Pincher Creek and Brocket. Ealey said the Report-A-Poacher line played a big part in alerting officials to what was going on.

Fish and Wildlife officers served summonses on seven people and executed four search warrants on Tuesday, from which they seized a truck and numerous wildlife parts.

Officers are interviewing additional suspects in relation to this investigation throughout Alberta, as well as in Ontario and in Washington state. It's expected those interviews will lead to more charges against individuals and perhaps businesses.

 

[powderburn]

Lethbridge Herald

Wildlife officers feel something akin to elation after a week like the one they just had, with several arrests made in connection with the trafficking of wildlife in Alberta.

"There were some good feelings around here this week," said wildlife officer Egon Larsen, with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

"Trafficking is the most serious issue we face as wildlife officers because if it's left uncontrolled, it can and will decimate wildlife populations, some more quickly than others."

The department's special investigations unit spends considerable time and money doing touchy undercover work and, Larsen says, they rely heavily on tips from the public. Those come in a variety of ways but often through the Report-A-Poacher line.

"It's important that people not get frustrated if they've passed information along to us and it seems like a long time has passed and nothing has happened. It's not that we're not doing anything, it's that these things take time. Because of the secretive nature of it, we have to proceed carefully so as not to jeopardize the investigation or endanger our officers.

"The people involved with this are very secretive because they know the penalties are stiff. We're not too concerned about the person who buys something without really knowing but we target the ones who are counselling the undercover officers about how to beat the game warden."

Most of the charges laid this week carry maximum penalties of up to two years in jail.

"When they don't get caught, it provides encouragement to continually trap or shoot eagles, or to set nets illegally for fish," said Larsen. "An eagle, when it's all parted out, is probably worth at least $1,000. People use the feathers for art -- some gorgeous art -- the bones are used for whistles. The talons are used, the heads are dried and used."

Eagles and eagle feathers are a large part of aboriginal spirituality and culture but native people must have special permits to possess these items. Neither native or non-native people are allowed to hunt eagles or even take feathers from nest sites but Fish and Wildlife has a legal procedure by which native people can obtain new feathers or other eagle parts for ceremonial use.

"If we come into possession of an eagle, we never discard it," Larsen said. "They're sent to Edmonton and they're catalogued by the forensics unit.

"Native people come and apply for what they need, and if it's a legitimate request, it will be approved. We get requests for everything from a single feather to full carcasses."

Four search warrants were executed this week in parts of Alberta and seven men were charged with various offences ranging from the illegal harvesting or trafficking of fish, birds of prey or big game. Tuesday's search warrants yielded items including seven full carcasses of birds of prey, more than 200 eagle-related exhibits and a truck filled with illegal wild game.

"There is no doubt education is important," Larsen said. "It's true that if people know the reason why a law is there they're much more likely to obey it."

Conservation is usually behind hunting or fishing restrictions but human health can be a factor, too. The meat from animals butchered incorrectly can make people sick, as can fish taken illegally from streams that may be contaminated, for example.

"People need to know that it's not just a local issue," Larsen said. "If you go overseas and you buy a pair of boots made from lizard or alligator, you could be breaking the law. Carvings can be made out of elephant tusks. And ignorance of the law is no defence when you get caught."

 

[ELKCHSR]

Lots happening...
I'm glad these people were taken off the streets.

 

[Elkhunter]

Yep, hang them. I am glad to see a crackdown on them. We need to see this more often. I think the public is tired of looking the other way when they know of an offence and is slowly starting to do the right thing.

 

[BuzzH]

Does anyone ever read these articles?

They're CHARGED with a crime...but still have not been found guilty, yet some are already getting a rope?

Guilty until proven innocent.

 

[Elkhunter]

I will gladly rephrase that Buzz. Should they be found guilty, punish them to the fullest extent of the law.

 

[BuzzH]

Elkhunter,

Agreed.

 

[cjcj]

Does anyone ever read these articles?

They're CHARGED with a crime...but still have not been found guilty, yet some are already getting a rope?

Guilty until proven innocent.

Everyone should know by now that only Buzzh can "pre-judge" people....see [fat-assed atv riders] hump |oo

 

[BuzzH]

cjcj,

I dont pre-judge anyone...I just want to see a ban on all ATV's off of roads that are not capable of being driven by a passenger vehicle.

Simple as that...your fat ass is between you and the seat cushion.

 

[ELKCHSR]

Not Prejudge???

 

[powderburn]

BuzzH I talked with the field boss from the colony that the Walter boys are from. He told me a guy that was believed to be a water quality tester had been offering Martin and Steven Walters money if they could get him some bald eagle parts. The guy was under cover and when they produced whole bald eagles things pretty much sealed their date with the court room. After a
lenghty under cover operation I don't think they would waste their time naming and charging these people if they couldn't make it stick. What I find interesting is that last year a couple of Hutterites from another colony in the same area had two of their guys charged with poisening and selling body parts from grizzly bears last year.