A law enforcement officer with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources loads an elk skull into the back of a truck. (Credit: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
Utah wildlife officials say at least 104 animals were illegally killed in the span of about one month this summer, putting 2024 on track to see more poaching than the year prior.
Data from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, or DWR, shows that between Aug. 1 through Sept. 9, at least nine deer, six elk, two moose, a bear and a pronghorn were illegally killed. That’s on top of 60 fish and 25 other animals that the division said were illegally killed.
More than 100 illegally killed animals might seem like a lot, but Capt. Chad Bettridge, a law enforcement officer with the DWR, said that’s roughly on par with other months, especially now that several seasons, including archery hunts for deer and elk, are underway.
“Unfortunately, yes, it’s too many. But it’s kind of in line with where we’ve been,” Bettridge said. For reference, during that same timeframe last year, there were 173 instances of illegally killed wildlife
Do you believe an animal was killed illegally? Consider these four resources:
Text UTiP at 847411. Make sure to include any available information.
Call the 24/7 UTiP hotline at 800-662-3337
Download the UTDWR app, available for IOS and Android. The app will allow you to direct message a DWR officer. You can remain anonymous, send pictures and share GPS coordinates.
Submit a tip online at the DWR’s website.
And remember these tips from the DWR:
Get a license plate number. Officials say this is the most important piece of information to pass along.
Don’t confront the person. Instead, watch from a distance and avoid putting yourself in harm’s way.
Calling the 24/7 hotline is the quickest way to report a wildlife violation.
The hotline is not an information line, so if you’re looking for information, visit the DWR’s website or call the nearest office.
Each year, between 1,000 to 1,200 animals are illegally killed in Utah, with numbers from the state showing a slight, upward trend, with 2023 being an exception.
There were 1,065 animals illegally killed in 2019.
1,079 killed in 2020.
1,153 killed in 2021.
1,283 killed in 2022.
1,056 killed in 2023.
Bettridge thinks this year could put the state back on that upward trend.
“It won’t surprise me if we end up a little bit higher than last year. Hopefully that’s not the case,” he said.
Poaching data in Utah can be easily skewed, mostly because of illegal fishing. There can be instances where an angler mistakenly catches a few fish over the legal limit, with each fish counted as an illegally harvested animal. Bettridge pointed to one instance at a pond in southern Utah a few years ago where someone caught nearly 50 fish over the limit.
And like other outdoor activities in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, more people are fishing now than ever before. That means there are likely more inexperienced, mistake-prone anglers on Utah’s rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Not every illegally harvested fish or animal is nefariously killed — in fact, most are accidents.
“Just because an animal is taken illegally doesn’t mean that the person meant to do it. People make mistakes,” said Bettridge, who reminded Utahns to report their accidents.
“Contact us. Let us know. It makes for a much better circumstance if a little bit of responsibility is taken,” he said.
It’s also incredibly easy to report poaching in Utah, which could be contributing to the slow, upward trend. During that Aug. 1 to Sept. 9 timeframe, the DWR received 201 tips, which Bettridge said is high.
“It’s definitely going up. I don’t know if they’re more in tune with what’s going on around them, or they have more curiosity,” he said.
Those tips are crucial to combating poaching in Utah, where just 53 officers are responsible for patrolling the entire state.
“Our officers are in great need of the public’s help. We just don’t have that many officers out there,” Bettridge said.
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