Oregon State Police Seek Tips in Otter Poaching at Coastal Pond

Published 06/15/26 at 7:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) - Oregon State Police (OSP) on the central Oregon coast say its Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help identifying whoever is responsible for the unlawful killing of a river otter in eastern Lincoln County. (Above from OSP: blurred out version for preview; below is the uncensored version)

Fish and Wildlife troopers received a report on May 6 of a dead otter floating in Thissel Pond, a popular trout fishing spot near the Oregon Hatchery Research Center on Fall Creek Road. Troopers located a male river otter that had been shot with a small-caliber firearm. Investigators believe the animal was killed sometime between April 26 and May 3.

River otters primarily stick to the river areas just inland from the coastline, but sea otters are no longer present along the coastal regions of Oregon. River otters do wander west on occasion, and this is when they are often mistaken for sea otters.

Anyone with information on this alleged crime is asked to contact Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677), or TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Reference case number SP26-146568.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a partnership between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitters and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board.

The program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or citation involving the unlawful take, possession, or waste of big game mammals.

Preference Point Rewards

5 Points: Bighorn Sheep
5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat
5 Points: Moose
5 Points: Wolf
4 Points: Elk
4 Points: Deer
4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope
4 Points: Bear
4 Points: Cougar

The TIP program also provides cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or citation involving unlawful take or waste of fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards may also apply to habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling licenses or tags, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging.

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:
$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose
$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope
$600 Bear, Cougar, or Wolf
$400 Game Fish & Shellfish
$400 Snagging/Attempt to Snag
$300 Habitat destruction
$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling licenses or tags
$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)
$200 Game Birds or Furbearers
$200 Spotlighting

Rewards for Game Fish & Shellfish and Snagging/Attempting to Snag are sponsored in part by Northwest Steelheaders Association and Coastal Conservation Association.

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey
$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox
$1,000 Species listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excluding fish)
$10,000 Wolves east of Highway 395
$11,500 Wolves east of Highway 395 and north of Highway 20

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:

$200 Acting as an outfitter guide for the illegal killing of wildlife, illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling licenses or tags, or illegally offering to act as an outfitter guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.

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