Tough On Poachers

Wildlife enforcement

California is suddenly the worst place in America to be a wildlife poacher.

A law that took effect on Jan. 1 raises the maximum punishment to $30,000 and a year in jail, per offense, for illegally killing and selling fish or wildlife.

This is a new kick-butt, take-names approach in a state where for years there have been many wildlife arrests yet soft penalties. The law puts poachers on notice and sends a message to district attorneys and judges that poaching for profit is a serious crime against the public.

It has been crafted primarily to obliterate an international black market for bear parts, as well as wide-scale fish poaching in the California Delta, where there have been more wildlife arrests the past three years than anywhere else in the country.

At the same time, the law also takes on minor-league outlaws who routinely take overlimits, and sell off their catch in illegal markets.

Bear gall bladders are selling for $5,600 per ounce in overseas oriental medicinal markets, state officials said.

The new law is necessary, said one game warden who said he was disgusted by the leniency given to convicted poachers after a year-long undercover investigation into a poaching ring.