OPERATION GAME THIEF: It's a Crime Stoppers for 
wildlife ... find out what it is on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

Since 1981, Operation Game Thief has been protecting 
Texas' natural resources with the help of a nature-loving 
public that calls in with tips about law-breakers.

:13 -- When our game wardens respond, and they can catch the 
individual, and make the arrest by citation -- or physically take 
them to jail -- upon their conviction, that individual can be 
eligible for a reward payment of us to one thousand dollars.

Eric Howard, Operation Game Thief program 
administrator, says most people who call the Crime 
Stoppers-like hotline aren't interested in a reward.

:17 -- It's more just pride -- love of Texas' natural resources. 
When a person calls in, they're asked, do they want a reward. 
About 60-65% will say no, they're just calling in because they 
see something that they know isn't right and they just want it 
stopped.

Game Warden Howard tells us about an incident this fall 
in which a man captured two hawks in Laredo and 
transported them to North Carolina. The case was still 
unfolding at the time of our interview.

:21 -- Someone contacted the Operation Game Thief hotline 
number, and a Game Warden responded through a very lengthy 
investigation -- not only through Texas Parks and Wildlife -- but 
the USFWS, and NC Fish and game Service. It was determined 
that the person did not have a license, was not permitted to 
have the hawks and was not any kind of falconer.
 
And that made the trapping and transport illegal. Learn 
more about Operation Game Thief, and find the hotline 
number on the Texas parks and Wildlife website.

That's our show ... For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm 
Cecilia Nasti. 




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Maximum Script time:		 0:34.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25