The Humane Society of the United States issued the following statement commending Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on a 22-month investigation into the suspected illegal sale of fish and wildlife products in Florida’s Orange, Lake, Osceola, Polk and St. Lucie counties:
“The Humane Society of the United States applauds the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for taking reports of crimes against wildlife seriously,” said Kate MacFall, Florida state director for The HSUS. “Poaching operations are devastating to the welfare of wild animals and the conservation of the species. The HSUS urges law enforcement to continue to aggressively investigate, and if warranted, prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
Twenty-one suspects have been identified in the illegal sales of deer, grouper, alligator and other species. The products were reportedly purchased from poachers and unlicensed individuals, and sold to out-of-state markets. The charges include 75 felony violations and 147 misdemeanor violations.
With the help of citizens who report suspected wildlife violations to the Wildlife Alert tip-line (888-404-FWCC), FWC officers are on the front lines of the effort to apprehend and bring to justice those who wantonly exploit wild animals.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.