The Nevada Department of Wildlife has posted a $10,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally putting pike into Comins Lake.
The money spent by the state of Nevada to restock Comins Lake with largemouth bass and trout is nothing compared to the $250,000 spent on removing invasive northern pike from the same body of water in 2015 alone.
Tyler Turnipseed, Chief Game Warden for the NDOW said,
"We've invested tremendous time, money and resources in eliminating pike from this fishery. The person illegally planting fish is costing sportsmen money that could be better spent, and they are destroying one of Nevada's most productive and heavily utilized fisheries. This is an ugly and damaging act, and we intend to find who did it."
Now the department wants to know who did it and they're sparing no expense.
The NDOW has stated that this crime can only be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, but warns that the civil penalties involved would be quite harsh, possibly reaching into the tens of thousands.
Multiple big name sportsmen's groups are now adding to the kitty by donating money including, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and the Operation Game Thief Citizens Board.
Northern pike are a non-native species in the Silver State so any introduction of the fish is considered invasive and certainly illegal.
Persons with information about this illegal introduction of pike are asked to please call the OGT hotline at (800) 992-3030. It's also possible to follow Chief Turnipseed on Twitter: @Chief_GW_NV
Photo courtesy of Nevada Department of Wildlife via AP
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