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Show Ijlt lit ViM ) K&JZ& .jVA ;':-hr;--:r',-;-.; Two Utah Division of Wildlife Resource enforcement specialists show the bobcat pelts recently confiscated by the Division. The pelts are valued at up to $50,000. DWR seizes bobcat hides Almost 200 bobcat hides, valued as high as $50,000, have been seized in recent weeks by Utah Division of Wildlife Resoia-citt (DWR) law enforcement personnel, per-sonnel, according to Dall Winn, DWR regional law enforcement officer. Following months of investigation and planning, DWR law enforcement personnel, who worked in cooperation with wildlife agents from the federal government and four adjoining states, made six arrests and took the illegal hides into possession. Suspects were arrested for possession of protected wildlife unlawfully taken (bobcats)." Agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and wildlife officers from Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado coordinated coor-dinated efforts on the project to apprehend the suspects. Some 15-20 DWR officers were involved in making these cases. Winn said: "This is the largest case, in terms of monetary value, ever made in the state of Utah. We have known the problem existed throughout the state for some time and have been trying to gather enough evidence to make a case against some of the people we suspected. With a lot of work, by a lot of concerned professionals, we were finally able to make a good dent in what we think is a sizable ring of illegal fur dealing." Winn went on to say that the value of the furs is part of the motivation for the illegal activity. Average fur prices for bobcats in the Seattle fur markets are about $250 with large, prime hides selling for as much as $400 or more. The fact that Utah has placed a limit of four cats per trapper and charges $25 for a metal jaw tag on three of the four permitted hides is also a reason for the illegal traffic. States surrounding Utah place tags on bobcat hides free of charge. For those who don't think Utah wildlife, faces the same kind of pressure placed on resources in more populated states, Winn pointed out that this type of illegal operation can be a highly profitable, commercial-type poaching ring. He also said that any time illegally-taken wildlife is carried across state lines, it is a violation of the Lacey Act and that brings Federal agents into the case. Investigations connected with these cases took place over a four-month period, with some suspicion and facts emerging over a year ago.' Winn complimented the private citizens who offered help in this matter. "We have had some good information passed on to us in these cases from concerned citizens and those tips have been very valuable. Without that assistance, the Division would not and will not be able to stay ahead of those who still think it is permissible to violate wildlife laws." Arrested in the recent cases were Kent Ward and Kerry Otte, Smithfield, Cache County; Jerome Fickas, Logan, and Martin Ross of Idaho. Fur dealers involved in the cases were Steele and Steele Fur Co. of Utah County and James and Jonathon Massey of Arizona. |