Reminder for the week: Spots available for the annual Youth Academies; get your applications in today!
DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between April 22-28 made 2,448 contacts with anglers, boaters, hunters, and the general public, issuing 29 citations. Officers responded to 56 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community
- On April 26-28, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer, discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, and answered hunting, fishing, and boating questions while attending the annual Delmarva Outdoor Expo at the State Fairgrounds in Harrington.
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions
- On April 24, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Antonio Vass, 21, of Newark, for one count each of operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway, damaging state property on a wildlife area, and driving with a suspended or revoked license on the C&D Canal Conservation Area near Delaware City. Vass was issued a summons for a mandatory appearance at New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 9 and released.
Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:
Fisheries Conservation: Possession of undersized striped bass (1), no Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (7), crab pot tampering (1), unlicensed fishing (5), and possession of undersized white perch (1)*.
Boating & Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1) and operating an unregistered vessel (1).
Other: Littering on a state wildlife area (2)*, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (6)*, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (2)*, damaging state property on a wildlife area (1)*, and driving with a suspended or revoked license (1)*.
*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.
Are you AWARE?
If you are a student aged 12 to 15 with an interest in natural resources and law enforcement, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police are once again offering their popular and successful summer Youth Academies, with spots still available!
The Youth Academy is a five-day program designed to teach youth about boating safety, hunter safety, and how to protect our natural resources, while looking to nurture the relationship between Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and the community. Participants in the Youth Academy attend tuition-free.
This year’s offerings include two Basic Youth Academies and one Advanced Youth Academy:
- Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy (Kent County) –
Monday through Friday, July 8-12, Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center, 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, DE 19901
Application Deadline: Friday, June 7 - Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy (New Castle County) –
Monday through Friday, July 15-19, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720
Application Deadline: Friday, June 7 - Natural Resources Police Advanced Youth Academy (New Castle County) –
Tuesday through Saturday, July 23-27, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720
Application Deadline: Friday, June 7
Youth Academy applications and more information are available online at http://de.gov/fwenforcement. Please contact Captain Brian Pollock at 302-365-8703, or email brian.pollock@delaware.gov if you have further questions about the youth academies.
Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.
Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.
Contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913