Strengthen Penalties for Poaching in Oregon: Support Senate Bill 924
Three weeks ago Audubon took in a peregrine falcon that was illegally
shot near Newburg---it died in a box while it was being transferred to
our Care Center for treatment. Each year we see a steady stream of
hawks, owls falcons and eagles that are intentionally and illegally
injured and killed. These crimes are outrageous--but in Oregon they
often result in little or no punishment!
We need your help to
send a strong message to poachers that Oregon will not tolerate
intentional, illegal killing of our wildlife. For the last year Audubon
has worked with conservation organizations, hunters and anglers to
develop a bill which helps address poaching in Oregon.
Senate Bill 924 takes a critical step forward in the fight against wildlife poaching in Oregon. Despite laws that have been on the books for decades, poaching remains a significant problem in Oregon. Wildlife rehabilitation centers continue to see a steady stream of hawk, falcons, eagles and osprey that have been illegally shot. A recent study by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife revealed that poaching may be responsible for as much as 50% of the deer taken in Eastern Oregon directly contributing to deer population numbers that are now significantly below state target levels It is notoriously difficult to catch individuals in the act of poaching. However, even when poachers are identified and successfully prosecuted, conservation, hunting, fishing and trapping groups alike agree, the courts have been reticent to impose significant penalties.
SB 924 would add a couple of important provisions to existing law. Specifically it would:
Requires imposition of a fine of not less than 50% of the maxim fine allowed under law (currently this would be $3125) when a person is convicted of intentionally taking:
- A bird of prey
- A sturgeon over six feet in length
- A mountain goat or mountain sheep
- Buck deer or bull elk with antlers with at least (undetermined) points
- Illegal sale of protected wildlife
- Requires the maximum penalty allowed under law (currently $6250)
for situations in which a person is convicted of intentionally taking
three or more times the daily bag limit for any hunted or fished
species
How you can help:
1. Please write before next Thursday to the list of senators
below (cut and paste them into an email) and tell them that you want
their support on SB 924 (if you can cc your own local senator and
representative that would be great as well). The email does not have to
be long but let them know that you care about wildlife and want the
state to take wildlife crimes seriously. YOUR VOICE REALLY COUNTS--A
FEW LETTER CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!
2. If
anybody would like to come to Salem to testify in person please email
back to me and we can discuss specific testimony. It would be great to
have a strong showing at this hearing. on this list can come to Salem
next Thursday to testify in person before the Senate Environment and
Natural Resources Committee, that would be a huge help. The hearing is
scheduled on April 7 at 3:00 at the Capital. If you have not done it
before it is actually a very cool experience.
Key Messages:
· Please tell the committee that you support passage of
SB 924 to strengthen penalties for poaching in Oregon---it is important
that the state send a strong message to poachers that their crimes will
be taken seriously!
· It is great to support all aspects of this bill but we
are asking Audubon supporters to focus specifically on birds of prey.
The hunting and fishing communities will have game species well covered;
· Birds of prey are amazing creatures---many species of
birds of prey have spent decades recovering from serious population
declines. There is no excuse for illegal killing of these magnificent
birds.
· These enhanced penalties are necessary to curtail an
epidemic of poaching in Oregon. The State and its residents have spent
hundreds of millions of dollars to restore wildlife populations and
wildlife habitat across Oregon. Each years thousands of people donate
their time and skills to support habitat restoration projects, monitor
wildlife populations, participate in wildlife rehabilitation programs
and engage in myriad other wildlife related projects. Poaching wildlife
is a crime against our communities;
· Wildlife watching, hunting, trapping and fishing
activities contribute more than a billion dollars to local economies
each year and wildlife related equipment purchases in Oregon generate
another $1.5 billion in economic activity. SB 924 is the right thing to
do to protect our natural heritage, our community investments and our
local economies.
Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee
sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us
sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us
sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
sen.dianerosenbaum@state.or.us
It would be great to also cc your own state senator and
representative. To do find your own legislators, go to the following
web link and enter in the required information: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
