Hunting & Trapping Digest 2008-2009 - (Page A3) ers are often found driving $30,000 vehicles, and using expensive night-vision technology, illegal silencers and military-style rifles. Simple greed and obsessive behavior in collecting antlers are common causes. A disturbing and increasing cause is killing simply for thrill, with no intention of making use of any part of the animal. The black market trade in wildlife parts is bigger than WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICER Jonathan Wyant displays most people realize. In game trophies seized from individuals convicted of wildlife crimes. Pennsylvania the most common wildlife related items sold on the black though they feel the risk of getting caught here market are venison, velvet antlers, fully devel- is higher, because the fines are usually lower oped antlers; black bear gall bladders, paws, and there is no possibility of jail time, like there skulls, claws and hides; and protected bird feath- is in their home states. ers and talons from eagles, owls and hawks. In New York, Delaware, Virginia, West VirOne criminal, over an 18-month period, sold ginia and Maryland, almost all wildlife violations Game Commission undercover officers more are misdemeanor offenses, while in Pennsylthan 90 black bear gall bladders, most of which vania, the vast majority are graded merely as came from bears that had been poached. Al- summary offenses. The only misdemeanor, and most 400 white-tailed deer have been pur- possibility of imprisonment for poaching, is limchased from the black market by undercover ited to threatened and endangered species. officers in recent investigations, as have more This is a dramatic disparity between Pennsylthan 300 other pieces of wildlife, from otters and vania and other states that this legislation can bears to chipmunks and protected birds. correct. Empirical evidence suggests that increased As a point of reference, in 1913 the fine for penalties do have a deterrent effect. Prosecu- unlawfully killing a deer was $100. According to tions decreased by more than 2,000 violations, the State Data Center, if adjusted for inflation to or almost 20 percent, from 1986 to 1988, when have the same financial impact to a poacher the legislature last increased penalties in 1987. today, the penalty would have to be $2,123. Black market criminals have told undercover Currently, the penalty most frequently applied is officers that they deal in wildlife rather than other only $300. contraband because there is no imprisonment The Game Commission encourages sportsfor dealing in wildlife, regardless of how much men and other wildlife enthusiasts to contact they sell. Poachers from other states have con- their legislators and express support fessed that they come to Pennsylvania even for this important legislation.
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