Judging the Effectiveness of Anti-Poaching Hotlines

All state wildlife law enforcement agencies in the United States have toll-free phone numbers that allow citizens to report wildlife crimes that they witness. The success of these lines in leading to the apprehension of wildlife criminals is reliant on the knowledge of the caller. This is particularly problematic for wildlife violations due to the varying conditions that dictate whether the reported act is a crime. These conditions include factors such as time of year, time of day, type of gear used, as well as others. Therefore, in order for anti-poaching hotlines to be an effective means of reducing wildlife crimes, the caller must understand the state’s established hunting and/or fishing laws. This article outlines a pilot study that used survey data to explore participants’ knowledge of wildlife laws and crimes as well their knowledge of the reporting hotlines in their states. This information can be useful in determining the most effective use of publicizing wildlife crime information and poaching hotline phone numbers to the public and includes recommendations for future research on this subject