Reward Offered for Info on Cut Down Trees

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is seeking leads for information about who cut down trees on the Spring Bayou Wildlife Management Area in Avoyelles Parish.

After further investigation by LDWF biologists and agents, LDWF has found up to 100 trees cut down on the WMA since early December of 2014.  Agents believe the trees were cut down to block navigation to the northern part of the WMA in order to keep other hunters out of the area.  The trees blocked all three entrances to an area known as the “Bean Field” in the northern part of the WMA.

The trees ranged from 10 inches to 30 inches in diameter and up to 50 foot tall including cypress, oak and willow trees.

LDWF has secured up to ,000 in reward money each from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, Spring Bayou Restoration Team and Louisiana’s Operation Game Thief.  The reward now totals up to ,000 to anyone with information that leads to the arrest in this case.  Anyone with information regarding the cut down trees should call the Louisiana Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-442-2511 or use LDWF’s tip411 program.

To use the tip 411 program, citizens can text LADWF and their tip to 847411 or download the “LADWF Tips” iPhone and Android app from the Apple App Store or Google Play free of charge.

The hotline and the tip411 are monitored 24 hours a day.   Upon request, informants can remain anonymous.

The penalty for cutting down trees on a WMA is criminal damage of state property and brings up to a ,000 fine and up to 10 years in jail.  There may also be a civil restitution charge for the replacement value of the trees and cleanup required.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.