What do COs do after receiving RAPP reports?

[vincentcui]

Hi all, for all these year's I am just wondering what are CO's follow-up actions upon receiving RAPP reports? I have met COs in bear seasons in-land and deer season on the island and on Haida Gwaii, all of them are very professional and respectful. I have also reported poachers (online, then follow up with email to send pictures I took) in 3-18, 3-19, 3-28 and 8-7. I never got a response from any CO stating "loop closed". Will a CO go to the coordinate I send and examine the carcass? What measures would they take afterwards? Poaching in 3-28 seems worse now. I only went there twice this year and had file RAPP both times: first time saw a cow moose carcass in September, then two doe carcass in October. I hope the RAPP submission does not end up in a recycle bin...

[Gateholio]

As the CO service is stretched so thinly, I always assumed the response would be in proportion to the urgency and importance of the call. And what you or I may deem urgent may be completely different from what a CO thinks.

I also think that follow up would be low on their priority list unless they wanted more info or it was something extraordinary. There are just so few of them that I am sure they have to be very cautious of their time.

[ghost]

I reported a cow moose carcass ,offered gps location. They never got back to me. Maybe they knew of it all ready and had bigger issues to deal with

[tigrr]

It boils down to time and people to handle the call load.
It also is useless to do all the work required to find the people involved in the crime. Then if they are FN it was a waste of time and man hours, because the crown will toss the case. Unless you give info on 6 dead animals with no meat recovered, just antlers, expect no call back.
Thats how bad it is under NDP leadership and the cut backs in the CO numbers. Just go to the CO website and see how much territory each of them have to cover. My idea is to cut back on the RCMP budget and grow the CO budget!
Then look at the FED Fisheries people and stand back and shake your head.
The UNDRIP NDP supported is going to gut fishing too.

[Redthies]

I called a few years ago when I saw some “new Canadians” cutting down a tree with a huge bald eagle nest in it down near my old property in South Surrey. It was a well known nest, and they had been told they couldn’t remove it to develop their property. Within 20 minutes there was a knock on my door. It was an under cover CO who investigated animal part trafficking and didn’t do regular “patrol work”, but happened to be Christmas shopping in my area and they called him. He dropped everything to deal with it. I was very impressed.

[Gateholio]

I called a few years ago when I saw some “new Canadians” cutting down a tree with a huge bald eagle nest in it downnnear my old property in South Surrey. It was a well known nest, and they had been told they couldn’t remove it to develop their property. Within 20 minutes there was a knock on my door. It was an under cover CO who investigated animal part trafficking and didn’t do regular “patrol work”, but happened to be Christmas shopping in my area and they called him and he dropped everything to deal with it. I was very impressed.

That's very cool. Good story I didn't know about their undercover activities but I guess it makes sense.

[tigrr]

The best they can with the manpower available!

[Redthies]

Yeah, I didn’t either. I guess they called the regular duty guy and he was in Chilliwack or some place way out the valley, but he knew his buddy was in my area and called him. I answer the door and it’s some random young guy in a Honda or something and I’m thinking “who is this goof”, and he pulls out his badge and flips it open like we’re on an episode of Hill Street Blues! I told him what was up, and he headed right over there.

[thick]

I reported a freshwater fishing violation via RAPP and had provided all of the evidence necessary to charge the poacher. CO followed up within a day or two via telephone on his way back from giving the guy a ticket. I was very impressed.

Another time, I reported a moose hunting poaching/illegal hunting method via RAPP and never heard anything. In that case, I did witness a violation but I did not collect the required evidence that would ensure a slam dunk. My guess, is that’s why I never heard anything back.

Since that one, I am now much more diligent when out in the bush, if I start to see funky things, take the few seconds to snap photos, write a note etc. The easier we can make the case for the CO, the higher chance it will get investigated and solved.

[Livewire322]

A while back, I was watching a YouTube video on a popular BC off road channel and they showed people in their group chasing and catching grouse with their hands, in the spring time. Didn’t sit well with me that the channel was essentially promoting and profiting from harassing wildlife, so I reported it.

Within a week, the CO phoned to follow up and thank me for the report - no details on what f charges were pressed, it they definitely do receive and check the reports.