Audubon California today called on Governor Schwarzenegger to sign new legislation that instills tough new penalties for violations such the illegal taking of birds and other wildlife well over what the law allows, as well as poaching for profit and intentionally torturing wildlife. Assembly Bill 708, authored by Assembly Member Jared Huffman, was recently sent by the Legislature to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

“Although we might like to think that in this day and age the problem of poaching would be well behind us, it is actually a real and rising threat to California birds and wildlife,” said Graham Chisholm, executive director of Audubon California, which worked closely with Assembly Member Huffman to craft the important legislation. “Clearly, this legislation has widespread support and merits the Governor’s prompt signature.”Audubon California began pushing for new legislation to increase penalties for violations after learning late last year of an alarming upswing in poaching incidents. A.B. 708 quickly gained widespread support from both sides of the aisle, as well as an array of conservation and hunting organizations, wardens, and law enforcement officials. As it made its way to the Governor’s desk through committee hearings and floor votes, the bill never received a single no vote.

The bill lands on Schwarzenegger’s desk just months after the California Department of Fish & Game declared 2008 “The year of extreme poaching.” This designation was typified by the arrest of a Gilroy hunter who had in his possession more than 300 bird carcasses – way over the legal limit – including protected species such as Sandhill Crane and Tundra Swan.

The rise in extreme poaching matches that of poaching overall. Violations rose from 6,538 in 2003 to 17,840 in 2007. The trend has hit waterfowl particularly hard, with sensitive species of geese and ducks the most at risk.

“Because this new wave of poaching undercuts the important work of many to restore California bird populations, both conservationists and hunters are eager to see this bill signed into law,” Chisholm added.

The deterrents in A.B. 708 are particularly important because the state has so few resources for enforcement. California currently has only about 200 active-duty Fish and Game wardens to patrol the state’s 100 million acres. These wardens do courageous work, but their efforts aren’t matched by the state’s poaching laws, which are among the weakest in the country.

A.B. 708 instills heavy fines for poaching, and allows officials to revoke the licenses of the worst offenders.