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N.C. Wildlife Enforcement Offcers play a special role in both enforcement and conservation. Along with enforcing laws that involve hunting, fshing, trapping and boating on N.C. waterways, wildlife enforcement offcers are involved in public safety and education. Their Hunter Education and Boating Safety courses and Pre-Launch Boating Safety Checks not only save life and limb but also help to prevent costly fnes and penalties. Each encounter with the public is an opportunity to help sports and recreation enthusiasts become more aware of the need to conserve and enjoy North Carolina’s wildlife resources.

NCWRC Law Enforcement activities address • Public Safety

• Enforcement of rules and regulations established by the WRC and

General Assembly

• Protection of state public trust resources by gaining compliance with game, fsh and boating laws

WILDLIFE law ENFORCEMENT IS UNIQUE

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission wildlife law enforcement offcers are authorized by the State of North Carolina to enforce fsh and game laws. The NCWRC Wildlife Enforcement Mission Statement also pledges to conserve wild­ life resources, promote safe responsible boating, and provide public safety for those enjoying wildlife related recreation. As a primary directive, NCWRC Wildlife Enforcement Offcers focus on the need to conserve wildlife and their habitat along with the need for public safety. Wildlife Enforcement

Offcers also take a proactive approach during their interactions with the public and use those opportunities to educate and create awareness of conservation issues.

An ever-increasing responsibility is enforcing laws con­ cerning the North Carolina’s growing illegal wildlife traffcking activity. An example of this activity is noted here:

CONSERVATION and public safety are enhanced through WILDLIFE law ENFORCEMENT

6 • North Carol ina Wi ldl i fe Resources Commi ss ion

Illegal Wildlife Trafficking—

One Officer’s report:

“Several months ago, N.C. Wildlife enforcement offcers became aware of three men collecting reptiles. We stopped them as they were headed out of town. They had in their possession, spotted turtles from Tyrrell County, a woods turtle from West Virginia along with a total of 230 additional specimens, illegal to possess. The wholesale value of these reptiles would have been $25,592 which is equal to the current market value of over 25 pounds of marijuana. They were selling the catch to a middleman who would then resell them in China for $3,000 each, many for medicinal purposes.”

Illegal wildlife traffcking is the second largest threat to many species, only after loss of habitat. And this is a fast-growing crime.

Only Wildlife Enforcement Offcers work the Illegal Wildlife Traffcking trade in North Carolina.