TURN IN A POACHER PROGRAM PROVIDES $880 IN AWARDS COLUMBUS, OH - Ten Ohioans recently received a total of $880 for reporting wildlife violations to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The awards are part of Ohio's Turn In A Poacher (T.I.P.) program. More than 28 wildlife poachers were subsequently arrested and fined a total of $3,565 by Ohio courts. Since the T.I.P. program's start in 1982, more than $188,000 has been awarded to 844 callers providing information about state wildlife violations. Those calls helped lead to the arrest and conviction of 1,486 poachers, who paid a total of $501,745 in fines. For each T.I.P. caller receiving an award, nearly two wildlife violators have been convicted. For each dollar paid in rewards, $4.24 has been returned to the state wildlife agency for wildlife management and enforcement. The average T.I.P. payment award is $140 and the average fine to the poacher is $337. The T.I.P. program allows Ohioans to call a toll-free number from anywhere in the state to report wildlife violations. Calls can be placed anonymously at 1-800-POACHER (800-762-2437).
Source: ODNR
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