By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Now if you’re out in the woods and come across a poacher you want to turn in, it’s as easy as sending a text message.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering a text tip system to report fish and wildlife violations directly and anonymously to its dispatch center, according to a news release.
With a limited number of WDFW officers in the field, the public plays a critical role in protecting natural resources by reporting illegal activity, according to Chief Bruce Bjork, head of the WDFW enforcement program.
Tips should be sent to 847411 (TIP411); the message must begin with WDFWTIP followed by a space and the a brief description of the violation and the location, according to authorities.
Enforcement officials advise against confronting a suspicious person, but say helpful information includes a license plate number, vehicle color and make, the type of suspected violation, time it occurred and a brief description of the persons involved.
For more information about various ways to report violations, go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/poaching/
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter