 CASES
Santa Rosa County
- Officer R. Corbin conducted an inspection of a local wildlife rehabilitation center. During the inspection, it was determined the facility was in violation of several regulations, including improper caging requirements and inadequate record keeping. The rehabilitator was charged in accordance with the law. The FWC emphasizes the importance of compliance with wildlife standards to ensure the safety and well-being of animals while in rehabilitation.
- Officer Lewis was on patrol at the Blackwater Heritage State Trail Park when he observed a subject using the trail after sundown during closed hours. The subject advised the officer he knew the trail was closed during night hours and had been trespassed from the trail previously. Upon confirming the subject was trespassed from the trail, the officer arrested the subject for the violation, cited the subject for being in the closed area, and transported the subject to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
- Officer Land observed a camouflaged boat with three individuals dressed in camo and wearing chest waders approaching the boat ramp. Officer Land conducted a resource inspection on the vessel, which contained duck decoys and shotguns. The subjects said they had not shot anything. Officer Land asked to inspect the subjects’ shotguns and the vessel operator admitted his gun was not plugged. Officer Land inspected the firearm and found it was capable of holding more than three shells, which is not legal when hunting migratory birds. Officer Land found the subject had been previously cited for the same offense and issued the subject a notice to appear for the violation.
Wakulla County
- Officer D. Travis was on patrol in the Apalachicola Wildlife Management Area. He located a camouflage hunting blind, camera, hunting chair, and shooting stick. He also observed a liquid substance on the ground near the blind as well as deer attractant and discarded empty containers. Officer Travis returned to the area and made contact with a subject, who was in possession of a crossbow and muzzleloader. He admitted to hunting in the blind, placing the bait and leaving empty bait bottles. He was given a notice to appear for placing bait in the WMA and appropriate law enforcement action was taken regarding illegal method of take, littering on public lands and operating a vehicle on an unnamed/unnumbered road.
- Officers K. Matthews and M. Fernbach responded to a complaint about a subject who was hunting in the Wakulla Wildlife Management Area, which was posted closed to hunting. Officer Specialist J. Hofheinz relayed information from a trail camera that a complainant had sent to him. Officers Matthews and Fernbach found the subject's boot prints and followed the sign back to a residence where the subject had been staying. They identified the subject from the trail camera picture. The subject showed the officers where he had hidden the bow, deer attractant, and grunt call on the neighboring property. The subject was given a notice to appear for hunting in a prohibited area of the WMA.
- Officer Fernbach was on patrol in the Apalachicola National Forest and located a game camera with corn placed on the ground in front of it. The officer investigated to determine who the subject was and identified and interviewed an individual. The subject admitted the camera was his and he had placed the illegal bait. Officer Fernbach gave the subject a notice to appear for placing the bait in a prohibited area.
OFFSHORE PATROL
- Officer Cushing and Officer Land conducted a resource inspection on a vessel in state waters in the Gulf of Mexico with two individuals on board who were fishing. Officer Land observed a red snapper on the deck of the boat. The season for red snapper was not open at the time. Officer Land also located three more red snapper in a cooler at the bow of the vessel and three undersized gray triggerfish. The two subjects were each cited for possession of red snapper during closed season, possession of undersized gray triggerfish, and possession of over the bag limit of gray triggerfish.
 CASES
Alachua County
- Officer Harris responded to a report from Marion County FWC Officer Flynn regarding a potential violation. Officer Flynn had observed a subject transferring more than 25 crappie from a live well into a cooler. Upon arrival, Officer Harris conducted a resource inspection and confirmed the subject was in possession of 28 crappie, exceeding the daily bag limit. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.
- Officer Williams conducted an inspection of a subject who had imported elk parts including meat containing high-risk parts such as bone into Florida from Colorado. It is illegal to import or possess deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses or high-risk parts such as bone from anywhere outside of Florida due to concerns about chronic wasting disease (CWD). The subject was charged for the violation.
- Master Officer Stanley responded to a report from a local hunting club regarding a boat and trailer abandoned at their gate. The trailer had a broken tongue, and the left tire and rim were missing. Additionally, the vessel was filled with trash. Officer Stanley identified the vessel using its hull identification number (HIN) and interviewed a witness who had observed a pickup truck towing the damaged trailer. The witness provided photographs and a Florida tag number. Further investigation revealed the truck was rented, and the rental company identified the individual responsible. Following an interview, it was determined the subject had abandoned the boat and trailer with no intention of recovery. Charges for littering over 500 pounds were filed with the State Attorney’s Office.
- Master Officer Stanley responded to information about a subject who had killed a deer not meeting antler point regulations. Officer Stanley conducted an interview with the subject and measured the deer’s antlers, and determined the antlers did not meet the requirements for the deer management unit the deer was taken in. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.
- Senior Officer Guirate received information from Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources regarding an individual who had potentially killed a deer in Kentucky using illegal methods. Kentucky Officer C. Fox reported the individual checked in a 10-point antlered deer after their rifle season had ended in November. Officer Guirate contacted the subject, who admitted to shooting the deer in Kentucky after their season had closed and transported the carcass to Hawthorne, Fla. It is illegal to import or possess deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses or high-risk parts such as bone from anywhere outside of Florida due to concerns about chronic wasting disease (CWD). The subject was charged for the violation and charges are pending with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
- Officer Williams observed a truck parked at Santa Fe Swamp Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA). Officer Williams heard gunshots consistent with duck hunting, which is prohibited in the area. Upon contact, the subject was found wearing waders and holding a 12-gauge shotgun along with three wood ducks he had killed. When asked, the subject admitted he was unsure of the hunting regulations in the area. The subject was issued a citation for hunting waterfowl during a closed season in a WEA.
- Officer Williams investigated a vehicle parked suspiciously inside the Orange Creek Restoration Area. The St. Johns Water Management District (SJWMD) land manager informed Officer Williams the vehicle was in a restricted area. The subject had illegally lifted the gate post to drive into the area. Officer Williams contacted a subject sleeping in a nearby tent and instructed him to pack his belongings. The subject attempted to leave in his vehicle and resisted lawful commands. Officer Williams deployed her issued CEW, which was ineffective, and a physical struggle ensued with the subject striking and scratching the officer. With assistance from the SJWMD land manager, Officer Williams subdued and handcuffed the subject. The subject was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation before being booked into the Alachua County Jail. Charges included battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, igniting a fire on district lands, unauthorized destruction of district property, operating a motorized vehicle on nondesignated roads, overnight parking, and littering exceeding 15 pounds.
Citrus County
- Officer Specialist Ulrich was conducting inspections of wild game processors when he located bone-in deer meat without the proper reporting. A short investigation led Officer Ulrich to an individual who had no current Florida licenses or harvest reporting data and admitted to harvesting the deer from Georgia and bringing meat containing high-risk parts such as bone into Florida. It is illegal to import or possess deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses or high-risk parts such as bone from anywhere outside of Florida due to concerns about chronic wasting disease (CWD). Officer Ulrich issued appropriate citations and has contacted Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a follow up with the individual as he holds no valid Georgia Licensing as well.
- Senior Officer Reid received information from Officer Pietroburgo about a subject hunting over bait in Citrus Wildlife Management Area. The officers worked together coordinating information so Officer Reid could effectively address the violation. Officer Reid conducted an interview with the subject and the subject admitted to placing the bait within the WMA. Officer Reid issued appropriate citations.
Dixie County
- Officer Reith was on water patrol along the coastline and observed a group of subjects taking waterfowl. The officer conducted a resource inspection and found one subject was using an unplugged shotgun, did not possess a valid federal duck stamp, nor any valid nonresident licenses. Appropriate citations were issued.
Levy County
- Officer Jones conducted a vessel and resource inspection on subjects returning from duck hunting in the Cedar Key area. In addition to vessel safety equipment violations, Officer Jones also discovered one subject had taken a dunlin, a protected shorebird that is illegal to take. Although the subject stated the harvest was a result of misidentification, Officer Jones stressed the importance of correctly identifying the species before shooting. Officer Jones issued a citation for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits the take of certain migratory birds such as Dunlin and issued warnings for the other vessel safety equipment violations.
- Officer Jones conducted a resource inspection on a subject fishing along a bridge in Cedar Key. Officer Jones inspected a cooler and found seven undersized spotted seatrout and the subject was over the daily bag limit of spotted seatrout. Officer Jones issued the subject a citation for the harvest of undersized spotted sea trout and issued a warning for the harvest of over the daily bag limit of spotted sea trout.
Nassau County
- Resource Protection Unit (RPU) Officer Russell observed several subjects who were fishing and appeared to be hiding the fish after landing them. Officer Kirkey arrived to assist and the officers located undersized flounder, bluefish, spotted seatrout, and black drum, all in hidden locations. The subjects were charged for the violations.
Taylor County
- Officers Edwards and Dicks conducted a resource inspection on a vessel at Petersons boat ramp and found the captain to be in possession of three red drum, making him over the daily bag limit. The captain also had multiple other boating safety violations. Appropriate citations and warnings were issued.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
- Officers Dean and Jones partnered with Florida State Parks to join an outreach opportunity at the Fanning Springs State Park that included the induction of new members into a local Girl Scouts troop and an educational trip to the park for the Girl Scouts. The FWC officers conducted a presentation about boating safety with an emphasis on life jacket education and basic water-related and wildlife-related safety practices. The new Girl Scouts members enjoyed their visit to the Fanning Springs State Park. Thank you to Florida State Parks for the invitation to join in on state park events!
- Officer Fox and Lieutenant Ransom decorated a local patrol vessel for the Chiefland Christmas Parade. This patrol vessel displayed lights and an array of wildlife mounts including deer, wild turkey and ducks. The vessel was pulled by a patrol vehicle throughout the parade along with Officer Fox and Lieutenant Ransom greeting parade attendees.
OFFSHORE PATROL
- While conducting an individual fishing quota (IFQ) fisheries offload at a local fish house, Officer Jacobs and Lieutenant Willis observed a few undersized red groupers being taken off the vessel. At the conclusion of the offload, Officer Jacobs asked the vessel’s captain if the fish box inside the deck was empty. The captain stated that it was. Officer Jacobs inspected the inside of the box and located approximately 151 pounds of additional fish hidden beneath the ice. The officers measured each of the fish and documented 22 undersized red grouper, which equated to over 63 pounds of undersized fish. During the investigation, it was discovered one of the vessels’ deck hands knew the fish were undersized and attempted to hide them from the officer’s inspection. The vessel’s captain was issued two federal citations for possession of undersized red grouper and failure to offload IFQ vessel on scene. The case will be turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for final disposition.
- Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Sentinel, crewed by Senior Officers Geib and Read, was conducting federal fisheries patrol when they observed a vessel with three subjects onboard who were fishing. Officer Geib boarded the vessel and during the inspection, located a sandbar shark, a prohibited species. It was also found the vessel did not have its highly migratory species (HMS) permit, required to retain any legal shark, or its descending device. The subjects were issued federal citations for the offense and the case will be turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for final disposition.
 CASES
Lake County
- Officer Specialist Scrambling responded to a report of multiple shots heard at Emeralda Marsh Public Small Game Hunting Area. Upon arrival, he located two subjects in the area where the shots were heard. During the investigation, it was learned the two subjects were waterfowl hunting beyond the legal hunting hours for the WMA. While conducting a license and resource inspection, one of the subjects did not possess a valid federal duck stamp and the other subject was using an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds. Officer Scrambling issued the subjects multiple citations and warnings for the violations.
- Officer Tuckfield was patrolling Seminole Forest Lake Tracy Unit Wildlife Management Area when he observed a truck parked along the fence line just inside private property. The truck had a dog box in the bed and there was a subject nearby. Officer Tuckfield contacted the subject to conduct a license and resource inspection. After the inspection, Officer Tuckfield drove further into the WMA and came across two dogs equipped with tracking collars. He was able to catch one of the dogs and observed the owner’s name on the collar, which was the subject he had just checked. Officer Tuckfield returned to the subject with the dog, and they admitted the dog was theirs. The investigation revealed the subject was casting dogs from the private property onto the WMA to pursue deer. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for using hunting dogs on the WMA.
- Officer Specialist Scrambling was conducting license and resource inspections at Emeralda Marsh Public Small Game Hunting Area during a waterfowl hunt when he observed a subject come into the boat ramp after their hunt. The subject was in possession of six ducks they had harvested. During a license and resource inspection, Officer Scrambling determined the subject harvested the ducks with a shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds. Officer Scrambling issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
Seminole County
- Officer Specialist Fahnestock completed a complex investigation involving armed trespass, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, petit theft, criminal mischief, hunting deer while license suspended, take of deer out of season by use of gun and light, wanton and willful waste of wildlife, illegal method of take of deer, taking game during nondaylight hours, and hunting illegally on St. John’s River Water Management District property. The individual was taken into custody after an arrest warrant was signed by a county judge. Several officers were involved in the case including Officer Specialist Navarino, Investigator Parrish and Lieutenant Mendelson. During the apprehension, the subject was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine. The individual was booked in the Brevard County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and was transported to Seminole County Jail on the warrants afterwards.
- Officers Wild and Naules conducted airboat patrol on the perimeter of a local wildlife management area when they heard an airboat operating near the property line of the WMA and then shut down. They located the airboat with no one on it and conducted surveillance in the area. They observed an individual with prior FWC history exiting the wood line of the WMA with a dog commonly used to hunt wild hogs. The dog was without a physical restraint as required by law and displayed signs of having been used for hog hunting. Officer Naules issued the subject a notice to appear for the physical restraint violation.
Orange County
- Lieutenant Mendelson received information from a water management district that a fence was busted off the hinges and vehicles were on restricted areas near Lake Apopka. Officers Wild, Poley, and Hawks responded to the area and apprehended the vehicles that were operating in a closed area of the water management district property. The land manager requested the individuals be trespassed from the property. The officers addressed the following violations: operating a vehicle in an area closed to vehicles, using a nondesignated roadway, and conducting activity without special use permit and trespassing on the area.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Marion County
- Lieutenants Rice and Dias, Investigators Miller and Sumpter, and Officers Ulrich, Flynn, and Altman all participated in Operation Youth Hunt held at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve. This annual youth hunt is a partnership of FWC law enforcement, FWC Youth Hunting Program of Florida and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. This great opportunity gives youth between the ages of 12-17 with little to no hunting experience the opportunity to be guided by FWC officers. During this time, the youth hunters learn about conservation, the importance of shot placement, hunting ethics, how to read deer sign, how to clean and process the harvest, and many other valuable outdoor skills. This year eight hunters were chosen to participate and a total of 16 deer were harvested. Of the deer harvested, two scored over 100 inches placing the youth hunter into the Florida Buck Registry.
 CASES
Lee County
Senior Officer Bell, accompanied by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agents, conducted an individual fishing quota (IFQ) inspection on commercial fishing vessel on Fort Myers Beach. During the inspection, Officer Bell discovered three red grouper were under the minimum size limit for federal waters. The captain of the vessel was issued three charges for the violation.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officers Comartin, Rigali, Cusick and Palacios observed a subject in a small vessel at the restricted area of the Port Everglades. The officers contacted the subject to investigate and discovered the subject had no legal right to be in the area. Deputies from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene and they placed the subject under arrest for trespassing in a restricted area.
Martin County
- Officer Landers and Lieutenant Brodbeck responded to a Wildlife Alert regarding the illegal possession of marine life at a local dive shop. Upon arrival, the officers conducted a resource inspection of the shop’s aquarium and discovered one queen conch and one murex (sea snail) on display. The shop’s co-owner, who later met with the officers, admitted to knowingly harvesting the marine life illegally. As a result, the co-owner was issued a notice to appear for the possession of the queen conch.
Palm Beach County
- Officer David Morgan was conducting resource inspections at Phil Foster boat ramp when he observed three subjects with spearguns returning to a vehicle. He conducted a resource inspection on the cooler in the back of the vehicle and discovered an undersized, out-of-season hogfish. The subject was cited for these violations and given a warning for spearfishing within 100 yards of a legal fishing bridge.
- Officer Lardakis observed a subject diving without a dive flag on the north side of Boynton Beach Inlet. When the subject exited the water, he was carrying a speargun. Upon inspection, three speared, under-slot snook were located. The appropriate law enforcement action was taken.
St. Lucie County
- Officer Castle observed a subject walking to his vehicle in wet clothing, carrying a bucket and speargun. A resource and license inspection determined the subject had been spearfishing. The bucket contained multiple sheepshead, which exceeded the daily harvest limit. Also noted was the fact that several of the fish were undersized. The subject was cited for the violations.
MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE
Broward County
- Officers Lopez and Comartin were dispatched to the City of Pembroke Pines to assist the Pembroke Pines Police Department with a wildlife situation. Upon their arrival, they observed a large mute swan blocking the doorway of a residence. The swan appeared to be injured. Through careful planning, the officers were able to safely capture the swan and transport it to the South Florida Wildlife Care Center for treatment.
 Monroe County
- FWC Officers Richards, Foell, Piekenbrock and NOAA Officer Powell, were conducting patrols from FWC’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Trident with a focus on the commercial shrimping fleet anchored south of Key West. The officers spent two days checking for compliance with turtle excluding device (TEDs), marine sanitation devices (MSDs), and other fisheries and boating regulations. The officers located numerous fisheries and boating violations, including 12 TED measurement violations on one vessel, and five vessels with MSDs violations inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The officers also located undersized cobia; undersized, wrung spiny lobster tails; and undersized stone crab claws on the commercial vessels. The state, federal and sanctuary violations were addressed accordingly and citations were issued.
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