From FWC

This report represents some events the FWC handled Dec. 6-12 in the Northwest Region.

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.

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.