Natural Resources Violations Can Now Be Reported Online

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in conjunction with Turn in Poachers Inc. (TIP), has launched a new online service to report "non-time sensitive" natural resources violations. Non-time sensitive means the nature of the complaint is informational and does not require an immediate response from an officer.

DNR Enforcement Chief Mike Hamm said reporting violations online is appropriate when someone wants to provide information about a violation that has already occurred or a situation that occurs annually, rather than situations that require immediate attention.

The online form, available at www.dnr.state.mn.us is designed for people to report possible inappropriate behavior on public or private lands or waters, illegal hunting or fishing and other natural resources violations. The online service is only for violations that have occurred within Minnesota. The reports will be monitored Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

To report a violation online, people should fill out the form as completely as possible. The more information provided, the easier it will be for a conservation officer to investigate.

"Location is especially important, so people should include county and nearest town to the violation," Col. Hamm said. "These are key pieces of information. If they know the identity of the individual committing the violation, they should indicate the name on the form."

Online reporting will augment the TIP hotline that is in its 25th year of operation.

If the violation is ongoing or needs a time sensitive response, people should not report it online; they should call the 24-hour TIP hotline at 1-800-652-9093 immediately or #TIP on their cell phone.

"Poachers need to know that the law-abiding sportsmen and sportswomen now have one more tool to report illegal activity," Hamm said.