Poaching

Poaching is the illegal take of fish and wildlife.  It can involve hunting out of season, the taking of more fish or game animals than the law allows, and the illegal commercialization of species including abalone, sturgeon, bears, reptiles and many others.

Equally devastating crimes include pollution and habitat destruction and the insidious practice of transporting and introducing non-native undesirable fish (like northern pike and white bass) into California’s lakes and rivers. 

Although deer are a frequently poached animal, virtually all other species of California wildlife are also subject to illegal activity including bear, elk, antelope, marine fish, crustaceans, abalone and other mollusks, inland fish, raptors and reptiles.

Poachers devastate nature by breaking laws designed to assure proper wildlife management and species survival.  Poaching is an insult to the vast majority of hunters and anglers who obey the rules.

Because poaching is a crime of secrecy and stealth, its full impact in California is impossible to fully gauge.  However, enough poaching is documented to realize that it exacts a very heavy toll.

State Department of Fish and Game wardens do all they can to combat poaching.  But there are only a few hundred wardens spread throughout California.  To successfully fight poaching they must have help from all Californians.