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Some people don't know how to share. Wildlife Alert
helps protect fish and wildlife from abuse and keep
our waters safer.
Florida Fish Busters’ Bulletin
November 2011
Wildlife Alert: New ways to be the eyes and ears for fish and wildlife
By Bob Wattendorf and Katie Purcell
If you are like most Florida anglers
and boaters, you enjoy your time on the
water; it’s an opportunity to get close to
nature and break the routine of work,
school or retirement. The peaceful
challenge of trying to find, attract and
catch your piscatorial prey is made
possible, in part, by the scientific
management and conservation laws that sustain sport fish populations. The goal is
for everyone to be able to share in the pleasure and to provide a sustainable
harvest.
So when you see someone threatening those resources by damaging habitat,
polluting the water, harvesting fish illegally (using illegal gear, taking more than
their bag limit or keeping undersized fish), you probably wish you could do
something. Well you can. The Wildlife Alert Reward Program has helped the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) catch thousands of
violators through phone calls people make to 888-404-FWCC (3922) or when they
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The Wildlife Alert Program is administered by a 13-member committee
appointed by the FWC’s executive director. The committee meets at least twice a
year, oversees the program and determines the reward amounts. There are two
members for each of the FWC’s five geographic regions, and one member each
representing Audubon of Florida, Florida Wildlife Federation and Unified
Sportsmen of Florida. Each member serves a two-year term and may be reappointed
by the executive director.
Here is how Wildlife
Alert works. When someone
knows of, or suspects a
violation, they should report it
immediately. Information
such as the physical
descriptions of violators and
vehicles, license tag numbers,
locations, etc., are important to ensure an officer can respond appropriately. Callers
and online reporters may remain anonymous; they do not have to provide their
names or email addresses, and they will not be required to testify in court. A
confidential code number is required to be eligible for a reward, they are attained by
texting, emailing or calling 1-888-404-FWCC. Trained dispatchers handle Wildlife
Alert contacts 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Rewards range from $25 for no fishing or hunting license, to $1,000 for
commercial trafficking of wildlife or killing an endangered or threatened species.
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Someone who reports a boater operating a vessel while under the influence could
get $250.
The real beauty of the program is that violators – through court fines – are
the ones who pay the reward money. When a violator is found guilty, the judge can
require a portion of the fine be paid into the Wildlife Alert Reward Fund. That
money is then used to pay rewards. So in effect, violators are paying people to turn
them in.
The Wildlife Alert Reward Program is administered by the Wildlife Alert
Reward Association, a non-profit, 501 (C)(3) created in 1979. Association members
promote the program and raise private, tax-deductible, charitable donations to
supplement the funds received through fines. To donate to the program send a
check to: Wildlife Alert Reward Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600.
There are many other ways that concerned
citizens can directly assist the FWC.
Angler Tag Return Hotline: Call 800-367-
4461.
Burmese Pythons, or other exotic reptiles:
Call 888-483-4681.
Fish Kill Hotline: Call 800-636-0511.
Horseshoe Crab Nesting Activity: Call
866-252-9326.
Biologists place tags in bass for a
variety of research purposes.
nglers finding one should contact
the Angler Tag Return Hotline.