In 2015 the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust and its parent organization, HSUS, paid out five rewards totaling $20,000 for catching poachers of an elk and deer in Oregon, 10.5 tons of striped bass in Maryland, moose and deer in Washington, and a dolphin killed with an arrow in Alabama.

The Trust and HSUS, have offered $805,500 in rewards for the arrest and conviction of poachers.  Poaching, the illegal hunting and killing of animals, results in the death of tens of millions of animals every year, a number equal to all legal hunting combined, according to estimates of wildlife officials. 

Rewards have been offered in cases involving many different wild animals, from mule deer and elk to bald eagles and bobcats.  These rewards not only encourage people to give information to wildlife officials, they also raise awareness of this wide-spread illegal activity through the use of press releases.

What You Can Do

With very limited resources and acres upon acres of land to cover, wildlife officials need the help of caring and compassionate supporters like you.  Wildlife belongs to all people, but poachers step into America's wild backyard set to exploit animals with the belief that they probably will not be caught.

But by state wildlife agencies sharing information on poachers and citizens taking our role as stewards of wildlife seriously, we can stop these killers.

• Equip yourself with knowledge. Headed out to go hiking or bird-watching? Know your state's wildlife regulations and hunting seasons so you can readily identify violations.
• If you see suspicious activity, don't try to confront the individual. First, get a description of the poacher, the vehicle, and surrounding area.
• Second, call your state wildlife enforcement department immediately. Timeliness is necessary to catch poachers.

To contribute to this and other Trust programs, donate here.