Poaching in Cook County Forest Preserves: Presentation at FPDCC Board Meeting

Cook County Forest Preserve District (FPDCC) Board Meeting
May 11, 2021
Virtual meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m.

The Meeting began with a PowerPoint presentation by John McCabe, Director of Resource Management for the FPDCC on "Poaching - An Invisible Problem".
Highlights of the presentation:  

• Poaching of plants & fungi, wildlife and cultural artifacts is an ongoing problem in the forest preserves.  Hunting, trapping and the taking of any plant/fungi or part of an animal, dead or alive, is illegal. 
• The FPDCC consists of slightly over 69,000 acres which constitutes 11% of the land in Cook County (CC), so any removal of animals or plants takes a toll on populations and robs citizens from seeing pristine areas  Vandalism of cultural artifacts from archaeological sites is also a big problem. 
• 41% of threatened or endangered plant species and 37% of threatened or endangered wildlife in CC have ceased to exist in FPDCC lands.  There are other sensitive wildlife populations with reduced breeding populations. 
• Poachers' wildlife targets are white-tailed deer, snakes, birds, turtles, salamanders, insects.  Plant/fungi targets are leek/wild ramp (type of wild onion), mushrooms, native plants, timber, orchids, berries. 
• The story of a white tail deer with a large set of unique & desirable antlers was presented.  A picture of this animal was posted on social media which sparked people to come to the preserves in case they could pick up the deer's shed antlers, which would be illegal. The FPDCC decided to sedate the animal and remove the antlers and put large, visible GPS tracking tags on the animal to ward off poachers.  A large unique set of antlers can bring $10,000 plus to the seller.  Unfortunately the next season this deer was poached. 
• The FPDCC lands contain over 550 archaeological sites and some sites are dated thousands of years B.C.  Looting of archaeological artifacts is an irreplaceable loss of history.  Professionals use  "shovel testing" (digging up land and sifting through a wire mesh looking for artifacts) and  looters use the same process.
• Social media posting of animals/plants/places in the FPDCC can normalize illegal behavior but could also be used to track offenders.   Posting these pictures can unknowingly provide location data for poachers. 
• Trail Watch is volunteer program for frequent users of the preserves and they undergo training to observe unusual/suspicious behavior- they are an extra set of eyes to alert forest preserve police. 
• The Forest Preserve Police, in addition to safeguarding the public in the preserves, also have extensive training in the protection of the preserves' natural and cultural resources.  When in the preserves any unusual/suspicious behavior can be reported to the police: 708 771 1000 and they will investigate.

The Board adopted a resolution recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. 

• Started in 2014, the FPDCC was a founding member of the Nature, Culture and Human Health Network  (NCH2).  The network's goal is connecting people interested in the health benefits of nature.  
• The FPDCC and NCH2 have created a "Tools 2 Thrive Outside" campaign encouraging outdoor activities as beneficial to mental health.  The website is nch2.org/calendar. 
• Helpful activities are hiking, gardening, birding, volunteering, listening to birds chirping & leaves rustling, feeling the warm sun and breezes, and sensing fresh air and fragrant flowering shrubs.

The Clean Energy Framework was adopted to implement plans to reach the 2030 & 2050 greenhouse gas emissions goals. 

• In January 2019 a resolution was adopted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 
• Purchase of nineteen vehicles for law enforcement, 16 of which are hybrid (two are K-9 equipped), and one hybrid vehicle for the Resource Management Dept support the clean energy goals.  

The calendar for events for 5/11/21 to 6/22 21 was adopted, www.fpdcc.com/events. 

• May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month and events planned are Asian-Pacific traditions related to the moon, a Haiku Walk, and the ancient Japanese are of Gyotaku. 
• Events such as bird walks, virtual watercolor painting, hiking, wildflower walks, & yoga are posted. 
• Learn about snakes, hawks, butterflies, camping,  the moon/lunar eclipse, kites, frogs, animal homes, kayaking/canoeing, shrubs & trees, hummingbirds, bees, fungi, pond life, invasive species, Juneteenth.
  
• "Dinos Everywhere!"  is at Brookfield Zoo- 40 animatronic dinosaurs located throughout the zoo.

Observed by:  Michele Niccolai                                                                   Meeting length:  One hour, 15 minutes