Conservation Canines

New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers have the challenging job of protecting and investigating the illegal taking of all fish and wildlife in the state. They also are responsible for conducting wilderness search and rescue missions. They respond to and investigate all levels of criminal violations.

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

Canine Sig has been on the job since 2011. He patrols with Conservation Officer Mark Hensel. Sig helped find a lost toddler in Farmington, NH, in 2012.
K-9 SIG Handler.....Conservation Officer Mark Hensel Breed............................................Black Lab DOB..........................................03/07/2010 Gender................................................Male Start of Service.........................09/23/2010 Certified in.....Tracking, evidence detection, search & rescue and fish & wildlife detection

Ruby

Ruby joined the Fish and Game team in 2012; she patrols with CO Bill Boudreau.

K-9 RUBY
Handler....Conservation Officer William Boudreau
Breed..............................................Black Lab
DOB..........................................04/23/2011
Gender............................................Female
Start of Service........................06/19/2012
Certified in.........Tracking, evidence detection, search & rescue and fish & wildlife detection

POACHER - Our First K9
Now retired, Poacher was Fish and Game's first nationally certified police canine. a black Labrador retriever, Poacher 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. In his retirement, Poacher is enjoying 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 contribute through the NH Wildlife Heritage Foundation (specify Conservation Canine Program).

We appreciate your support!