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Poaching in the United States
Tosh Barnette
Lorien Koontz
Ian Jewett
Justin Brittin
Definition:
Poaching is the hunting and
killing of any animal illegally.
Two Main Types of Poaching:
• The harvesting of game animals outside of their designated
hunting season.
• Killing any non-game species such as threatened or
endangered animals.
Poaching History
• Hunting began
millions of years ago
as a form of
subsistence for
primitive humans.
• Almost every aspect of
the animal was used
History of Poaching
• Poaching of animals
was most likely to
have been originated
by a group of
Europeans venturing
into Africa.
– They went back with
only the hides of some
animals to promote fur
clothing and other
specific, desirable
animal products.
Efforts to Curb Poaching
• A growing concern
about interstate
exploitation of
illegally taken game
led to the enactment of
The Lacey Act in
1900.
– It prohibits the
interstate and
international trade in
illegally taken wildlife.
Recent History in Poaching
• Since 1997, prosecution of cases involving poaching total
over 18,000 in the United States.
• Gail Anderson, a forensic entomologist at Simon Fraser
University near Vancouver, British Columbia, calls bear
poaching, “the second most profitable crime in North
America after drug dealing,” and has reported seeing,
“truck loads of galls,” from U.S. bears and urges a more
dynamic anti-poaching approach here.
Crime Profit Percentage
Drug Dealing
Poaching
Other Crimes
100
50
0
Profitability
Laws
• In general some species are legal to hunt
and some are not
• Some laws from states and some from
federal government
• Enforcing laws can be problematic
Lacey Act
• Passed in 1900 but amended since then
• Regulates import/export of illegally taken
species
• Enacted because of poaching, but doesn’t
directly restrict poaching
Wildlife Act of 1976
• Detailed restrictions on the harvest of
animals
• Restricts methods
• Restricts which animals can be harvested
and where
• Purpose – for wildlife management and
preservation/conservation
Penalties
• Penalties for breaking laws vary
• VA – forfeit of license and or firearms
• Migratory species (mainly birds) – federal
repercussions
Enforcing Laws
• Enforcement – not easy
• Problems with funding
• Hard to police everyone – too much manpower needed
• Small scale offenders have decent chance of
evading punishment
Why Poach?
• Money for drugs and prostitution
• Far East exotic foods and
medicinal purposes
• Trophy heads of Bighorn sheep,
elk, moose, deer, goats, bear, etc.
• Exotic parts such as fetuses,
antlers, antler velvet, hooves and
tails of deer/elk/caribou, feathers of
eagles and other birds of prey, and
the gall bladders, paws, penis',
claws and teeth of bears
The Black Bear
• Paws, penis', claws, feet, and teeth
• Gall Bladder is scarcer than heroin
• The bile from the gall bladder is used in
traditional oriental medicines for the
treatment of burns, fever, stomach ulcers,
heart disease, cancer, liver and gall bladder
problems, and hemorrhoids.
• ***70 lb of gall bladder = 1 million dollars
Gall Bladder
Cougar
• Killed for head, claws,
and skin
• Skin = $1,000-1,500
• Territory spans the
United States, but
major problem with
poaching in the West
Birds of Prey
• Body parts used in decorative items
and jewelry
• Carcasses of bald eagles can sell for
$2,500 and feathers for $50 each
• Falcons and their fledglings are
trapped, stolen from nests, and sold
for use in the "sport" of falconry
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http://www.angelfire.com/va2/toshb/poaching.html
Works Cited
“Anti-Poaching Program.” Mountain Lion Foundation. October 2002.
<http://www.mountainlion.org/Anti-Poaching/poachers.htm>.
Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 63, No. 3, July 1999. Bethesda
MD.
Savannah, Robert. American Black Bear. Fish and Wildlife Service. 27
Nov 2002 <http://species.fws.gov/bio_bear.html>.
Verney, Peter. Animals in Peril. Great Britain: Mills & Boon Ltd.,
1979.
Waugh, Jeff. “Poachers Threaten Wildlife.” Banff National ParkWildlife. 1 Oct. 2002
<http://www.canadianrockies.net/banff/poaching.html>.
Works Cited (Cont’d)
• “Anti-Poaching Program.” Mountain Lion Foundation. October 2002.
<http://www.mountainlion.org/Anti-Poaching/poachers.htm>.
• Clede, Bill. Wildlife Forensics Lab. Law and Order. November 2002.
<http://www.clede.com/Articles/Police/wildforn.htm>.
• Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 63, No. 3, July 1999. Bethesda
MD.
• Savannah, Robert. American Black Bear. Fish and Wildlife Service. 27
Nov 2002 <http://species.fws.gov/bio_bear.html>.
• Verney, Peter. Animals in Peril. Great Britain: Mills & Boon Ltd.,
1979.
• Waugh, Jeff. “Poachers Threaten Wildlife.” Banff National ParkWildlife. 1 Oct. 2002
<http://www.canadianrockies.net/banff/poaching.html>.