Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 15

CASE FILES

Productive partnership
Game and Fish and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
work together for wildlife
By Robert Gagliardi

T

he Wyoming Game and Fish
Department works diligently yearround to solve wildlife crimes but
when violators leave the state, they
recruit the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
That's where USFWS law enforcement
agents come in with their federal jurisdiction
to assist Game and Fish personnel to cross
state lines. USFWS officers help gather
evidence and other case information to bring
violators to justice. This authority dates back
to the Lacey Act of 1900 that prohibits trade
in wildlife, fish and plants that have been
illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold.
Game and Fish and USFWS agents work
cooperatively to protect Wyoming's wildlife.
Game and Fish and the USFWS have made
working together to protect wildlife and serve
the public a shared priority.
"Our working relationship is close," said a
Game and Fish wildlife investigator. "Game
and Fish officers and the USFWS agents
work well together. A lot of credit goes to
the agents who have worked hard to foster
a collaborative relationship."
Some examples where Game and Fish
and USFWS teamed up on wildlife violation
cases include the 2011 Sagebrush Outfitters
case where 42 people were convicted for
connections to poaching deer and antelope.
Thirty of those convicted were from 13 states
and three foreign countries. In 2017, two
men from Bedford, Kentucky, were seen on

the hunting show "Hunting in the Sticks"
and harvested two bull elk in areas differing
from their licenses, which resulted in fines of
more than $30,000. This year, seven people
were ordered to pay more than $30,000 in
fines and restitution for more than 30 wildlife
violations between Laramie and Wheatland.
The case involved a landowner and hunters
from outside of Wyoming and resulted in
the conviction of nonresident hunters from
Michigan and Wisconsin who illegally killed
and transported their big game animals from
Wyoming.
"Those cases could not have been
made without the USFWS special agents
facilitating interviews, search warrants,
seizing of evidence, etc. in other states," said a
Game and Fish wildlife investigator. "People
don't know how much the USFWS assists
Game and Fish officers because it happens
behind the scenes. The cooperation occurs
on many levels and is multifaceted."
There also are a few cooperative cases
going through the court system - both
state and federal - that may be completed
this fall.
Solving big game crimes are not the only
way the two agencies work together. Species
such as bald and golden eagles, grizzly bears
and migratory birds are protected by federal
laws. There are only two USFWS agents in
Wyoming, so Game and Fish wardens and
biologists assist in investigations where eagles
and migratory birds may have been killed.
The USFWS helps with training for new
wardens, and also assisted Game and Fish

		

Ken Mills, Game and Fish biologist, assists the USFWS during a
wolf investigation. (USFWS photo)

with updates to its most recent migratory
bird hunting regulations in regards to baiting.
"I think the work accomplished between
both agencies is a good example of how well
we work together," a USFWS agent said.
"We have good people in both agencies, and
we work well together where our priorities
overlap."
Added another USFWS agent, "We have a
great working relationship with the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department because of that
mutual respect and interest in helping each
other with our missions."
- Robert Gagliardi is the associate editor of Wyoming
Wildlife.

Wyoming Wildlife | 15
Wyoming Wildlife magazine

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