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TURN-IN-A-POACHER PROGRAM PROVIDES $4,000 IN REWARDS COLUMBUS, OH - Thirty-five Ohioans recently received a total of $4,000 in
rewards for reporting wildlife violations to the Turn-In-A-Poacher (T.I.P.)
Hotline of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of
Wildlife. As a result of these calls, more than 53 people were convicted of
poaching wildlife and fined a total of $18,646 by Ohio courts.
The T.I.P. program allows Ohioans to call a toll-free number from anywhere
in the state to report wildlife violations. Calls can be placed anonymously
at 1-800-POACHER (800-762-2437).
The National Wild Turkey Federation, which lends financial support to the
T.I.P. Program, also awarded $205 to one tipster for information that led to
the conviction of a turkey poacher.
Since the T.I.P. program began in 1982, more than $122,340 has been awarded
to 879 callers who provided vital information about state wildlife
violations. Those calls helped lead to the arrest and conviction of 1,539
poachers, who paid a total of $520,391 in fines.
Records show that the average T.I.P. call results in the conviction of two
wildlife violators. The average T.I.P. payment award is $140 and the average
fine for those convicted of poaching is $350. For each dollar paid in
rewards, $5.92 has been returned to the division for wildlife management and
enforcement.
Source: ODNR
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