The Division of Wildlife Resources has announced the expansion of its law enforcement investigative methods to include its first conservation officer drone team. “Using drones will help us more effectively solve wildlife crimes, and having trained law enforcement drone pilots will also allow us to assist other law enforcement agencies with search-and-rescue efforts or any other investigations,” shares DWR Captain Wade Hovinga. “Utah conservation officers are public servants, and these new tools will help us better serve the public, whether we’re solving poaching crimes or locating lost hunters.” The drone officers will be called to assist with a variety of things, including: Documenting crime scenes; Searching for evidence and locating illegally taken wildlife; Assisting landowners by investigating illegal trespassing on private property; Helping other law enforcement agencies with search-and-rescue efforts; Assisting biologists with wildlife surveys; Documenting boating accidents (available to assist, if asked); Investigating hunting-related shooting incidents; And investigating wildlife/human encounters. For more information, visit www.wildlife.utah.gov.
