Report A Poacher

What is poaching?

Poaching is the illegal taking of wildlife or fish and related activities. Poachers deplete wildlife and fish populations and destroy precious natural habitat. Poaching reduces hunting and fishing opportunities for all Albertans by reducing population numbers. Worse still, poaching of a vulnerable or threatened species can lead to its extinction.

You are a poacher if you:

• Hunt or fish out of season
• Hunt without a license
• Road hunt
• Night hunt
• Hunt on private land without permission
• Exceed bag limits
• Sell wildlife or fish illegally
• Hunt in manners hazardous to the public: while intoxicated, too close to occupied buildings or shoot off main highways
• Use aircraft to spot game and hunt
• Use illegal hunting / fishing devices or baits

How to Report A Poacher?

Poaching is a growing problem in Alberta, but it is one that you can help prevent. As a community-based program, Report A Poacher relies on citizen reports to help apprehend suspects and protect the abundance and diversity of Alberta’s fish, wildlife and habitat. Please help keep wildlife in our future and report a poacher.

BY PHONE
If you have witnessed suspected poaching activity, call the Report A Poacher (RAP) hotline toll-free at 1-800-642-3800. You may also call #3800 if calling from a TELUS cell phone.

Conservation officers with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Report A Poacher line can also be used to provide after-hours service in emergencies involving wildlife, such as bear mauling.

Poaching is a crime. The penalties for poaching are severe: if convicted, you may be fined up to $100,000 and / or be sentenced to six months in jail. In addition, items seized as a result of an investigation may be forfeited to the Crown.

What kind of information will I need to provide?

Be prepared to give the fullest possible account of the incident, including:

• Details of the violation
• Date, time and location of offense
• License plate number of vehicle
• Vehicle description, including any identifying features, dents, stickers, etc.
• Description of the person(s) involved
• Description of any evidence left at the scene, or evidence of the crime the violators took with them

All information about the caller is kept completely confidential. A caller can remain anonymous and still qualify for a reward. If the information you provide leads to an arrest, you may qualify for a reward.

Program administration

The Report A Poacher program is delivered in partnership with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD). Alberta Conservation Association is responsible for the program’s promotion and communications to the public. SRD provides the program’s administration and enforcement.

Program history

Created in 1990 as a community-based program, the Report A Poacher (RAP) program provides Albertans with an opportunity to help protect Alberta’s wildlife, fisheries and the habitat in which they live by reporting suspected illegal activity through a toll-free phone number (1-800-642-3800) in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Report A Poacher program acknowledges the value and importance of conserving Alberta’s wildlife and fish as well as a positive public image of resource users.

On average, RAP receives 4000 calls per year and rewards anyone whose information leads to an arrest.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the program, please contact the Alberta Conservation Association at 1-877-969-9091.

If you’re having a problem with an animal and it's not an emergency, please call your nearest Fish and Wildlife Office during regular business hours.

• Fish and Wildlife Office Contacts