Arizona Authorities Seek Leads in Wildlife Poaching Case
In a concerning development for wildlife conservation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has launched an investigation following the illegal killing of several animals near Big Lake in the White Mountains last month.
The investigation began on July 20, when three cow elk were found shot and abandoned. A week later, authorities discovered four additional elk, including a bull, similarly shot near the intersection of State Routes 273 and 261, close to the Big Lake campground access point.
On the same day, two bighorn sheep were also located shot near Three Forks, escalating the severity of the poaching incident.
Kalyn Miller, a Wildlife Manager with the Game and Fish Department, condemned the actions, stating, “This incident is the definition of poaching. Poachers are thieves who steal Arizona’s most precious natural resource. Not only did they kill six cow elk, but these poachers killed the future offspring that the elk would have produced.”
In an effort to solve the case, officials are offering a $20,000 reward for information that results in an arrest.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Operation Game Thief Hotline at (800) 352-0700, referencing case number 25-002276.
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