Conservation Canines

New Hampshire Conservation Officers have the unique and challenging job of protecting and investigating the illegal taking of all fish and wildlife in the State. Officers not only investigate fish and wildlife crimes, but also respond and investigate all levels of criminal violations.

Conservation Canines or "K-9s" are a unique tool to assist Law Enforcement in their investigations and apprehension of violators. Conservation Officers work with their canine partners conducting tracks, area searches, evidence detection, fish & wildlife detection and search & rescue.

Sig

Canine Sig has been on the job since 2011. He patrols with Conservation Officer Mark Hensel. Sig's first major success was finding a lost toddler in Farmington, NH, in June of 2012.

Ruby

Ruby is the latest canine on the Fish and Game team. Ruby started patrolling with CO Bill Boudreau in 2012, and has begun her training to become a Conservation Canine.

Poacher

The first nationally certified police canine for the NH Fish and Game Department was Poacher. Poacher, a black Labrador retriever, began patrolling with CO Mark Hensel in 2003. Poacher and Hensel were called to more than 150 Law Enforcement related calls for service and more than 150 Search & Rescue missions. Poacher was instrumental in the issuance over 100 citations and convictions for various law violations, ranging from the illegal taking of fish and wildlife, night hunting, to tracks and evidence searches in homicides, home invasions, burglaries, and thefts. He located 14 lost people throughout his career. One highly publicized case involved the track of a suspect after a bank robbery in Wakefield, New Hampshire. During the trial in Federal Court, CO Hensel and Poacher testified to the track conducted and the apprehension of additional suspects. The robbers were ultimately found guilty and sentenced to prison.

Poacher is now retired and is enjoying a more “normal” dog’s life at home with Hensel.

Training and Certification

The criminal justice system requires all Law Enforcement canines to be highly trained and certified in their respective fields of expertise. Law Enforcement canines must also be highly trained and certified to be able to hold weight in a criminal trial. Conservation Officers and their canines are certified through the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). Their certifications include tracking, evidence detection, agility and obedience and fish & wildlife detection. Training is very intensive and conducted on regular basis to maintain an extremely high level of proficiency and reliability.

How You Can Help

The Fish and Game Department estimates the yearly costs of a canine to be approximately $2,000. This accounts for food, veterinary bills, and general wellness and disease prevention. (But not unforeseen emergency medical conditions, which can drastically increase costs.)

Whatever the cost to keep a Conservation Canine healthy and on the job, it's an inexpensive price to pay to have a highly trained and competent canine team coming to look for your lost love one, or help catch the criminals and those who decide to violate our fish and wildlife laws. In fact, there is little argument that canines are some of the most cost-effective tools used by Law Enforcement and Conservation Officers.

If you would like to help support these canines by sponsoring a Conservation Canine, please contact the NH Wildlife Heritage Foundation.

We appreciate your support!