Recent poaching incidents being investigated by Cochrane Fish and Wildlife Officers point out just how badly the department needs the help of the public and their Report-A-Poacher line.

Now, the province is making it easier to report poachers by giving Albertans the option to use smartphones or computers to report suspicious hunting or fishing activity.

Until now, the only way to report poaching activity, dangerous wildlife or public land abuse was by phoning the Report-A-Poacher hotline.  Now, anyone can visit the Report-A-Poacher website to fill out a form and submit it online.

Information they fill out will be sent to Fish and Wildlife Officers to follow up on and investigate.

Brendan Cox, Communication Officer with the Enforcement Branch of Fish and Wildlife says the new innovation should be very well accepted.

"People prefer to use their phone to send a note rather than talking to somebody over the phone.  Some people will try to message our Facebook page to try to report illegal activity but we don't want to encourage that which is part of why we have made this new page.  It's really just another option that people have to report illegal hunting and fishing activity.  For some people, we anticipate this is going to be their preferred option but there's still the phone line.  It's really up to people to decide how they want to report.  We want to give people as many options as we can to encourage them to help us." 

Cox says the Report-A-Poacher program has become an invaluable tool for Fish and Wildlife Officers over the past 25 years that it's been around.

"It's an essential part of conservation efforts in Alberta.  Tips through the Report-A-Poacher program help us to protect and conserve our fish and wildlife so that future generations can enjoy them just as we do today,  The more support we get from the public through programs like this, then the better able we are to combat poaching activity."

In mid-October, Cochrane Fish and Wildlife Officers came across several poaching incidents in the same weekend.  In one, officers found an illegal bear bait site 10 km west of Water Valley.    A day later, officers found several big game animals that were killed by rifle in an archery only season.  Only parts of the animals were taken, which is also illegal.  The incidents occurred in separate locations in a 40 km radius northwest of Cochrane.  Cox says, so far, there is no update on those cases.  

To report a poacher online go to www.alberta.ca/report-poacher.aspx and fill out the form.  Cox says you can even send screen captures or photos to go along with the information.   You can remain anonymous and possibly qualify for a cash reward.  

Emergencies or incidents that need immediate attention should still be reported through the 24-hour Report-A-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.

In 2016-17 there were 14,894 calls from the public to the Report-A-Poacher toll-free hotline.  Of those, 3,097 were about suspected illegal activity.