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."
Not Prejudge??? 
