To Report a Poacher or Polluter

If you witness a poaching or polluting incident or any fish and wildlife violation, or have information about such a violation, immediately dial the toll free CalTIP number.

1 -888 DFG-CALTIP (888-334-2258), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Be prepared to give the fullest possible account of the incident including the name, address, age and description of the suspect, vehicle description, and the direction of travel, license number, type of violation and when and where it occurred.  You do not have to give your name.

Information from the call is relayed to the Fish and Game region where the offense occurred and an investigation is undertaken locally.  If the information supplied by the caller results in an arrest the caller becomes eligible for a reward.  (Rewards up to $1,000 have been paid.)  The case is then reviewed by a volunteer citizen’s group know as the “CalTIP Citizens Review Board.”

CalTIP rewards come entirely from donations, no state funds are used.  The CalTIP Citizen’s Review Board, not the Department of Fish and Game receives and administers these funds.  Money not used for the payment of rewards goes towards furthering CalTIP’s educational goals, such as public service announcements, informational videos and pamphlets and billboard campaigns. One-hundred percent of donated funds are used for rewards and educational projects and Board members receive no compensation or expenses.