Did you just see a wildlife crime or cruelty towards an innocent animal? Do you know what to do? Will you do it? Yes! You should do something about it. Okay, so you’ll stand up and make a stand—to help put an end to his. What do you do? Where do you start? This page make help make taking action more comfortable for you.
What to Do
When you unknowingly walk into wildlife crime, it can be so shocking that it can be challenging to think clearly. Don’t panic and remember OPLR.
- Observe
- Photograph
- Log
- Report
Observe
If you happen upon a crime and cruelty that has already happened. The first thing to do is make sure you are safe, and the area where you are at is secure.
Take a quick look around and see if there’s anything that could be used as evidence, or could help in an investigation.
Photograph
Thanks to cell phones these days, we always have a camera on us. While we call it photograph, a recorded video on your cell phone will be even better.
Take lots of pictures/videos of the area and what has occurred. If you notice anything that can help with an investigation, record it.
Log
Take note of what you see/saw. If you can, log everything in your cell phone, or somewhere else. Things may seem clear now while your memory is fresh, but it will be difficult to recall everything at a later date. The more information you have, the easier it will be for the local authorities to investigate.
Report
Leave the area as soon as you can. Once you’ve reaced a safe place, contact your local authorities and make a report.
What NOT to Do
Whatever you do, don’t run up to the person for a face-to-face confrontation. Not only can this end up badly, but you could get hurt or worse. Someone who is committing a wildlife crime (especially where there’s no one else to see what’s going on) can be a danger to your safety.
If it looks too dangerous, leave the area and once you have made it to a safe location, call the local authorities.