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Narrator: COMING UP ON "NORTH WOODS LAW"...
MacCabe: THESE SNOWMOBILES GO WELL OVER 100 MILES AN HOUR.
JUST TAKES ONE MISTAKE, AND IT'S GONNA BE A FATAL ONE.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
WE'RE HEADED TO A SERIOUS SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT.
WHERE IS HE?
Be able to see if he's got a gun out the window or not.
My heart's beating a mile a minute.
LET'S GO FIND A BEAR.
Man: YOU SEE THE MOTHER'S TRACK AND THE YEARLING'S TRACK.
CURTIS: It's a cornered, frightened bear.
I mean, you really don't want to mess with it too much.
Thrasher: WE'RE ASSISTING THE MAINE STATE POLICE
WITH A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF A MISSING CHILD.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE FACE WITH COLD-WEATHER DIVES
IS OUR EQUIPMENT FREEZING UP.
YOU RUN OUT OF AIR.
Narrator: FOR THE GAME WARDENS OF MAINE...
GUYS, HANG ON. WHAT'S THAT RIGHT THERE?
...THE WOODS ARE FILLED WITH DANGER.
HOLY SMOKE.
UP HERE, WILD ANIMALS AND GUNS OUTNUMBER PEOPLE.
EVERYONE WE ENCOUNTER HAS A WEAPON.
Narrator: THIS ELITE FORCE PATROLS DEEP INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY.
THEY SAVE LIVES AND FIGHT CRIME.
WE'RE GONNA CATCH US A POACHER TONIGHT.
IN THE NORTH WOODS, THE WARDENS ARE THE LAW OF THE LAND.
GAME WARDEN! DON'T MOVE!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IN MAINE, WINTERS CAN BE BRUTAL.
[ WIND WHISTLING ]
FILLED WITH FREEZING DAYS AND LONG NIGHTS.
SOME PARTS OF MAINE ARE COVERED IN SNOW BY LATE FALL
AND DON'T SEE DRY GROUND AGAIN UNTIL LATE SPRING.
MANY TIMES, WE'VE GOT 4 TO 6 FEET -- *** --
RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
Narrator: BUT WINTER ISN'T THE SLOW SEASON FOR THE WARDENS
BECAUSE MAINERS ARE DRAWN TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS
TO GO ICE FISHING, SNOWMOBILING, HUNTING, SKIING, SNOWSHOEING,
AND TO JUST HAVE FUN IN THE COLD.
All: ...1...GO!
[ CHEERING ]
YEAH!
WHOO!
YEAH!
Narrator: IT CAN BE TOUGH TO GET AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR.
BUT THE WARDENS ARE WELL-EQUIPPED
TO GET ANYWHERE THAT THEY ARE NEEDED.
TODAY, SERGEANT SCOTT THRASHER
WILL START HIS PATROL ON SNOWMOBILE.
LOVE YOU.
LOVE YOU.
BYE.
BEING A MAINE GAME WARDEN IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL JOB.
I COULD BE GONE ALL NIGHT.
I COULD BE GONE FOR A WEEK ON A SEARCH.
IT IS DANGEROUS, AND IT CAN BE TOUGH ON A FAMILY.
Narrator: THRASHER MEETS UP WITH WARDEN SCOTT STEVENS.
THEY HEAD OVER TO THE TOWN OF RANGELEY,
WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING SNODEO,
ONE OF MAINE'S BIGGEST WINTER FESTIVALS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
DUDE, THAT WAS SICK!
THE WARDENS HAVE A BIG PRESENCE HERE THIS WEEKEND.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYONE IS PLAYING IT SAFE ON THE TRAILS.
IT'S NO SECRET A LOT OF TIMES
GAME WARDENS ARE SNEAKING AROUND.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE WANT TO BE SEEN.
WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS OUT ON THE TRAILS
AND ON THE LAKE.
ONE THING WE'RE DOING IS LOOKING FOR REGISTRATION STICKERS.
YOU'RE GOOD.
THANKS.
SNOWMOBILING'S A BIG INDUSTRY IN MAINE.
ONE OF THOSE GUYS WE JUST CHECKED
SAID HE SPENT $12,000-PLUS FOR A BRAND-NEW SNOWMOBILE.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A TOY.
Narrator: ON A NEARBY LAKE,
WARDEN KRIS MacCABE PATROLS AN ICE-FISHING DERBY.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
MacCabe: OH, WHAT IS THIS GUY DOING?
Narrator: HE TAKES OFF AFTER A SNOWMOBILER
WHO SPED RECKLESSLY THROUGH A GROUP OF FISHERMEN.
YOU WERE GOING WAY TOO FAST THROUGH THAT CROWD OF PEOPLE.
Man: RIGHT.
NOT ONLY WAS THE RIDER GOING TOO FAST,
HIS SNOWMOBILE WAS MAKING A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE.
CAN YOU POP THE HOOD ON THIS?
YEAH.
THIS IS A CAN.
IT MODIFIES THE EXHAUST,
MAKES THE SNOWMOBILE A LOT LOUDER.
WE DON'T ALLOW THEM ON SNOWMOBILES.
CAN'S ILLEGAL.
YEAH.
WELL, IF YOU WERE GONNA PUT YOUR STOCK EXHAUST BACK ON,
YOU MUST'VE KNOWN IT WAS ILLEGAL.
THE WARDENS RUN THE SNOWMOBILER'S LICENSE
TO SEE IF HE HAS ANY OPEN WARRANTS.
20.
THE MAN WAS DUE IN COURT
FOR A VIOLATION THE WEEK BEFORE AND FAILED TO APPEAR.
THE WARDENS NEED TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION
AND MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A WEAPON.
YOU GOT ANYTHING IN YOUR POCKETS,
ANYTHING IN YOUR BACKPACK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE?
YOU GOT ANY KNIVES, GUNS, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON YOU?
BUDWEISER.
YOU'RE 20.
HE'S GOT THREE BEERS IN HERE.
THE MAN IS ARRESTED FOR THE OUTSTANDING WARRANT.
HE WILL ALSO RECEIVE SUMMONSES
FOR HAVING A MODIFIED EXHAUST ON HIS SNOWMOBILE
AND POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL BY A MINOR.
30 MILES AWAY, WARDEN JONATHAN PARKER FUELS UP
FOR A PATROL THAT WILL KEEP HIM UP FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT.
THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO BECOME A GAME WARDEN
IS BECAUSE I ENJOY BEING OUTDOORS ALL TIMES OF YEAR.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME, ESPECIALLY EVENINGS,
EARLY MORNINGS OUT THERE,
LOOKING FOR THOSE POTENTIAL VIOLATORS.
I'D SAY THE MOST DANGEROUS PART IS JUST THE SPLIT SECOND
WHEN YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE.
THERE'S DEFINITELY PLENTY OF BUSINESS AROUND, SO...
OH, YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
WELL, THANKS AGAIN. HAVE A GOOD ONE, TROY.
Narrator: TONIGHT, PARKER IS LOOKING FOR POACHERS
AND CHECKING ON HUNTERS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ADHERING TO THE LAWS.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF COYOTE HUNTING IN MY AREA THAT I COVER.
GONNA BASICALLY GO IN HERE AND CHECK TO SEE
IF THERE'S BEEN ANY ACTIVITY ON THESE COYOTE-HUNTING SHACKS.
I'M JUST GONNA PEEK UP OVER THE HILL HERE
JUST TO SEE IF SOMEBODY'S IN HERE HUNTING.
[ TRUCK DOOR CLOSES ]
Narrator: THIS TIME OF YEAR, LICENSED COYOTE HUNTERS
ARE ALLOWED TO HUNT FROM JUST AFTER SUNDOWN
TO JUST BEFORE SUNRISE.
PARKER LOOKS FOR SIGNS OF ACTIVITY
SO THAT HE KNOWS WHICH SHACKS TO CHECK ON AFTER DARK.
Parker: DEFINITELY GOT SOME FRESH TIRE TRACKS.
GAME WARDEN.
COYOTE'S ONE OF OUR LARGEST PREDATORS IN THE STATE OF MAINE
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR DEER HERDING.
THESE GUYS ARE TRYING TO HELP OUT THE DEER HERD.
Narrator: IN MAINE,
WINTER COYOTE HUNTING IS A COMPLEX UNDERTAKING.
HUNTERS SLEEP IN THESE SHACKS WITH A BAIT PILE IN THE CLEARING
AND A LOADED GUN AT THE READY.
COYOTES ARE LESS WARY AT NIGHT ABOUT APPROACHING BAIT,
AND THEY'RE EASIER TO HUNT.
THEY GOT SOME DEER CARCASS HERE.
THESE GUYS HAVE REMOTE SENSORS SET TO THESE.
THEY'LL SLEEP IN THEIR SHACK AT NIGHT, AND COYOTE COMES IN,
GRABS A PIECE OF MEAT OFF THE BAIT SITE.
IT'S GONNA TRIP THIS SENSOR OFF.
Narrator: WHEN THE MOTION SENSOR IS TRIPPED,
IT SETS OFF A BUZZER UNDERNEATH THE HUNTER'S SLEEPING BAG.
THEY GRAB THEIR GUN AND...
HEY, IT'S HISTORY.
HOPEFULLY, THEY GET A GOOD AIM.
Narrator: BACK IN RANGELEY,
A FIREWORKS SHOW SIGNALS THE END OF SNODEO.
BUT JUST WHEN THE WARDENS PATROLLING THE EVENT
THINK THEIR DAY IS WINDING DOWN,
THEY RECEIVE AN URGENT CALL FROM DISPATCH.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HEADED
TO A SERIOUS P.I. SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.
Narrator: THE CRASH TOOK PLACE SOMEWHERE ON A SNOWMOBILE TRAIL
2 MILES FROM THE NEAREST ROAD.
MacCABE IS NEARBY AND IS THE FIRST WARDEN TO RESPOND.
WE GOT TO GET OUT THERE,
AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THIS GUY'S DOING OKAY.
Narrator: IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME
TO GET THE INJURED VICTIM MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING WELL BELOW ZERO,
HYPOTHERMIA IS ALSO A MAJOR CONCERN.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
SERGEANT THRASHER ARRIVES AT THE TRAILHEAD
AND TAKES CHARGE OF THE OPERATION.
WE'RE GONNA GO INTO THE SCENE AND INVESTIGATE THE CRASH SITE
JUST LIKE YOU WOULD A CAR ACCIDENT.
WAS HOPING TO GET THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator: RACING ALONG THE TRAILS AT NIGHT IS DANGEROUS,
BUT THIS TIME, IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
WE'RE HEADED TO A SERIOUS SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT.
WE GOT TO GET OUT THERE,
AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THIS GUY'S DOING OKAY.
Narrator: SERGEANT THRASHER CATCHES UP WITH MacCABE
AT THE SITE OF THE CRASH.
WHERE IS HE?
Narrator: A PARAMEDIC IS ALREADY ON THE SCENE.
Man: NO SIGNS OF LIFE.
OKAY.
SLED WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 30 YARDS UP FROM THE PATIENT.
GONNA SEE A HELMET IN THE DITCH JUST BY THE PATIENT.
BESIDES THAT, WE HAVE NO CLUES TO THIS ACCIDENT.
MAN ON RADIO: Two guys that gave a statement
came up on the scene.
SO, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.
They need to come back.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
THIS GUY IS SOMEWHAT LOCAL.
WAS HIS HELMET ON OR OFF?
OFF.
Narrator: THE VICTIM,
A MIDDLE-AGED MAN ON HIS WAY TO SEE THE SNODEO FIREWORKS,
DIED FROM HIS INJURIES.
BACK IN THE STAGING AREA,
SERGEANT CHRIS SIMMONS BEGINS THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION.
HE FIRST INTERVIEWS THE SNOWMOBILERS WHO CALLED 911.
Simmons: ALL RIGHT, FOLKS,
IF YOU WOULD, GO OVER THIS WITH ME,
JUST KIND OF THE WHOLE STORY.
SNOWMOBILES RIDING TOGETHER, COMING BACK FROM THE SNODEO,
AND WE GOT, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT TO WHERE IT HAPPENED,
AND WE SEEN THE TRACKS WHERE THE SNOWMOBILE HAD TUMBLED, I GUESS.
AND JUST KIND OF LOOKED AROUND FOR A MINUTE,
TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.
YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE SNOWMOBILE RIGHT THERE?
YEAH, THE SNOWMOBILE LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY HAD PARALLEL-PARKED
ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAIL.
IS THAT RIGHT?
YEAH.
WE GOT UP CLOSE TO IT.
YOU COULD SEE RED IN THE SNOW, AND IT WAS THE TAILLIGHT,
AND THEN THE WINDSHIELD WAS LAYING THERE.
THAT'S WHEN WE FIGURED IT WASN'T VERY GOOD, SO...
AND THERE HE WAS.
WAS HE STILL ALIVE AT THAT POINT IN TIME?
DIDN'T APPEAR THAT HE WAS BREATHING.
OKAY.
Narrator: BACK ON THE TRAIL, THE WARDENS COLLECT EVIDENCE
THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HELP THEM DETERMINE
HOW THE CRASH HAPPENED.
WELL, THAT'S THE HELMET THAT CAME OFF INTO THAT.
THIS IS -- THIS IS A SKI MARK.
YOU CAN SEE THE TRACK ALMOST.
THAT'S WHERE IT HIT.
SO IT BOUNCED.
IT BOUNCED.
THE SNOWMOBILE'S ABOUT 40 FEET FROM WHERE THE SUBJECT IS,
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE
THAT THE SNOWMOBILE TRAVELED WITHOUT ANYBODY ON IT.
THAT HIT HARD RIGHT THERE,
AND THAT LOOKS BENT RIGHT THERE.
OH, YEAH, I THINK THE TUNNEL JUST BENT.
I THINK IT IS.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT ON THE HANDLEBARS.
MORE THAN LIKELY, HE WENT UP OVER THE WINDSHIELD
'CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD'S GONE.
YEAH.
THE WARDENS SET UP FORENSIC-MAPPING EQUIPMENT
TO PLOT THE SCENE.
THE MEASUREMENTS WILL BE USED
TO DETERMINE HOW FAST THE MAN WAS GOING WHEN HE CRASHED.
[ BEEP ]
HE WENT OFF THE TRAIL, KEPT TRYING TO COME BACK.
THE SNOWMOBILE HIT THIS EMBANKMENT.
IT WOULD'VE JUST BEEN A HEAVY IMPACT ON HIM
AND THEN TOSSED HIM OFF TO THE SIDE.
Narrator: WHEN THE WARDENS IDENTIFY THE VICTIM,
STEVENS REALIZES THAT THE MAN IS SOMEONE THAT HE KNOWS.
I WALKED RIGHT BY THIS GUY TODAY AT LAKESIDE.
DO YOU KNOW FAMILY AS FAR AS...
OH, YEAH.
...NOTIFICATION?
YEAH.
MacCabe: TOUGH SITUATION WITH OUR JOB.
WE DEAL WITH THESE LOCAL PEOPLE,
AND IT'S NOT ONLY SAD FOR THE FAMILY BUT SAD FOR US.
HE WAS GETTING HIS SLED WORKED ON TODAY
WHEN WE WERE IN THERE HAVING COFFEE.
REALLY?
YEAH.
YEAH, THEY HAD BATTERY CABLES HOOKED UP TO IT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAUL THE SLED OUT.
WE WANT TO RUN IT THROUGH THE SHOP...
YEAH.
...IF THAT'S TRUE
THAT SCOTT SAID HE WAS GETTING HIS SLED WORKED ON.
Narrator: AFTER GATHERING ALL OF THE EVIDENCE,
THE WARDENS SHOULD BE ABLE
TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT
AND WHETHER MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS INVOLVED.
IT'S LOOKING MORE LIKE SPEED
HAD MORE TO DO WITH IT THAN ANYTHING.
THEY MAKE THESE SNOWMOBILES TO GO WELL OVER 100 MILES AN HOUR.
THESE TRAILS, ALTHOUGH FLAT AND MAY LOOK SMOOTH --
IT JUST TAKES ONE MISTAKE, AND IT'S GONNA BE A FATAL ONE.
Thrasher: WE COVER A HANDFUL OF SNOWMOBILE FATALS A YEAR.
WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE FAMILY,
AND THAT'S THE TOUGH PART OF THE JOB.
IT'S REALLY SAD.
I MEAN, THIS GUY WAS JUST OUT FOR A RIDE,
AND HE'S NOT GOING HOME TONIGHT.
Narrator: IT IS NEARLY MIDNIGHT,
AND WARDEN PARKER'S PATROL IS IN FULL SWING.
HE IS WEARING SNOW CAMOUFLAGE
TO BLEND IN WITH HIS SURROUNDINGS.
I turn into a ghost in the night,
and I'll be able to blend right in.
Narrator: PARKER HAS BEEN CHECKING
COYOTE HUNTERS' LICENSES FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
HE IS ALSO MAKING SURE
THAT THE NIGHT HUNTERS AREN'T TARGETING OUT-OF-SEASON ANIMALS,
WHICH IS POACHING -- A SERIOUS OFFENSE.
Parker: WHO'S GONNA THINK THAT A WARDEN'S GONNA BE OUT THERE
AT MIDNIGHT, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 IN THE MORNING?
When you deal with minus, you know, probably 40 degrees
with wind chill out here tonight.
Watch the stars move across the ceiling.
What a night -- doesn't get any better than this.
Being a warden is, you know,
one of those jobs that everybody dreams of doing.
And I'm living the dream, you know?
IT'S COLD. IT'S COLD.
Narrator: PARKER SPOTS A VEHICLE
AT THE END OF A ROAD LEADING TO A SHACK.
Shack's just down here.
Be able to see if he's got a gun out the window or not.
Narrator: PARKER MUST TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION WHILE APPROACHING
BECAUSE THE HUNTER INSIDE LIKELY HAS A LOADED RIFLE AT HAND,
AND HE'S NOT EXPECTING TO ENCOUNTER A WARDEN
AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT.
I got to move in a little bit closer.
Narrator: PARKER NEEDS TO CHECK THE BAIT PILE
WITHOUT TRIPPING THE SENSOR AND WAKING THE HUNTER.
HE'LL USE HIS NIGHT-VISION SCOPE TO GET A CLOSE LOOK.
THE TYPE OF BAIT HE FINDS WILL HELP HIM DETERMINE
WHETHER THE HUNTER IS TRYING TO SHOOT SOMETHING
OTHER THAN A COYOTE, WHICH IS ILLEGAL.
IT IS AN ANIMAL CARCASS,
WHICH ONLY ATTRACTS PREDATORS LIKE COYOTE
AND NOT OUT-OF-SEASON GAME LIKE DEER, BEAR, OR MOOSE.
NOW PARKER NEEDS TO CHECK THE HUNTER TO MAKE SURE
HE HAS THE CORRECT PERMIT FOR HUNTING COYOTES AT NIGHT.
Definitely looks like there's a gun barrel
sticking out the front end.
I'm not gonna get any closer than this.
I mean, it's definitely, you know, a safety thing.
Narrator: AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT, THE HUNTER IS LIKELY SLEEPING,
SO PARKER MUST PICK THE RIGHT TIME TO APPROACH THE SHACK
TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T GET SHOT.
Oh, this gentleman's gonna be coming out with a firearm.
My heart's beating a mile a minute.
[ ANIMAL HOWLS ]
Now somebody's definitely coming out of the shack.
Parker: YOU KNOW, WHO'S GONNA THINK
THAT A WARDEN'S GONNA BE OUT THERE SITTING,
WATCHING THEM IN THEIR NIGHT-HUNTING SHACK?
This gentleman's gonna be coming out with a firearm.
My heart's beating a mile a minute.
Now somebody's definitely coming out of the shack, so...
GAME WARDEN. HOW'S IT GOING?
NO LUCK TONIGHT AT ALL?
NOTHING.
DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING?
I WAS OUT LAST NIGHT, TOO -- NOTHING.
Narrator: PARKER CHECKS THE MAN'S HUNTING LICENSE.
WELL, GOOD DEAL, DENNIS. I APPRECIATE IT.
HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU OUT HERE.
YEAH.
SO, HEY, DO YOU MIND
IF I TAKE A LOOK IN YOUR SHACK AT ALL?
NO, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, TAKE MY WEAPON.
OKAY.
IT'S CLEAR.
GUYS, I'LL TELL YOU,
THEY'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR COYOTE HUNTING.
IT'S JUST LIKE AT HOME.
Parker: ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T CATCH THIS GENTLEMAN TONIGHT
DOING ANYTHING WRONG,
THE WARDEN SERVICE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
WE'RE DEFINITELY A DETERRENT. THEY KNOW WE'RE OUT HERE.
Narrator: ON THE WAY TO CHECK OTHER COYOTE SHACKS,
PARKER SPOTS A SNOWMOBILER
RIDING ALONG THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD --
SOMETHING THAT IS DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL.
[ SIREN CHIRPS ]
GAME WARDEN! HEY!
PLEASE SLED RIGHT OVER HERE!
RIGHT IN HERE.
ANY WEAPONS OR ANYTHING ON YOU -- KNIVES?
OKAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY I.D. ON YOU AT ALL?
IT'S AT YOUR HOUSE. OKAY.
YES.
AFTER I PULLED THE GENTLEMAN OVER,
I COULD TELL RIGHT AWAY SOMETHING WAS UP.
HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO THE TOWN OFFICE.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU
THAT YOU'RE HEADED FOR THE TOWN OFFICE
AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT.
NO I.D. ON YOU AT ALL?
I'M GONNA RUN YOU BACK TO YOUR HOUSE TO GET YOUR I.D.
DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR POCKET. UM...
YOU'VE ALREADY LIED TO ME TWO OR THREE TIMES.
YOU JUST TOLD ME YOUR I.D. WAS AT YOUR HOUSE.
I'M HOLDING IT.
OKAY.
OKAY.
HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING AT ALL TONIGHT?
NO, SIR.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A SEAT IN MY TRUCK?
HIS STORY WASN'T ADDING UP.
THERE WAS SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT HIM.
I JUST WANT YOU TO BE HONEST AND UP FRONT WITH ME.
WHAT'S YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS?
FORGOT THE ADDRESS?
THE CONVERSATION THAT I'M HAVING, I'M CONFUSED
BECAUSE I'M THINKING, "WELL, ARE YOU ON ANY TYPE OF DRUGS?
ARE YOU ON ALCOHOL?"
I CAN'T SMELL ANY ALCOHOL ON YOUR BREATH,
SO I'M THINKING DRUGS.
YOU'RE TELLING ME --
OKAY, ARE YOU ON THEM RIGHT NOW?
Narrator: KLONOPIN IS A PRESCRIPTION DRUG
USED TO CONTROL ANXIETY.
OKAY.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE BEING HONEST WITH ME
'CAUSE I CAN TELL YOU'RE DEFINITELY --
YOUR STORIES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, OKAY?
WHY ARE THEY PRESCRIBED TO YOU?
OKAY. ARE WE GONNA HAVE ANY ISSUE HERE?
I WANT TO KNOW UP FRONT.
OKAY.
SHOULD YOU BE OPERATING THAT?
PROBABLY NOT. OKAY.
I KNOW KLONOPINS, OKAY?
I WORKED CORRECTIONS FOR SIX YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE DRUG THING.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A BREAK RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE BEING HONEST WITH ME, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, OKAY?
I'M GONNA WRITE YOU
FOR FAILURE TO DISPLAY REGISTRATION, OKAY?
THAT'S OKAY.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
TREATING YOU VERY FAIR.
21-42-AUGUSTA.
WE FOUND A PLACE TO PARK HIS SLED,
AND I'M GONNA BE RUNNING HIM BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE.
THIS HOUSE HERE? OKAY.
Man: THANK YOU.
STAY SAFE, OKAY?
WE'RE NOT ALL ABOUT WRITING TICKETS.
GET HIM HOME SAFELY, GET HIM OFF THE STREET,
AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.
[ ANIMAL HOWLS ]
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: EARLY THE NEXT MORNING,
THE WARDEN DIVE TEAM IS CALLED IN
TO CONDUCT A SEARCH OF THE KENNEBEC RIVER
NEAR THE TOWN OF WATERVILLE.
THIS 11-MEMBER TEAM SPECIALIZES IN RECOVERY MISSIONS.
TODAY, THEY ARE ASSISTING THE MAINE STATE POLICE
WITH A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF A MISSING CHILD.
21-MONTH-OLD AYLA REYNOLDS
DISAPPEARED FROM HER FATHER'S HOME 3 1/2 WEEKS AGO,
AND INVESTIGATORS STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
Thrasher: THIS IS A MAJOR INVESTIGATION.
A CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED.
A CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
Narrator: POLICE SUSPECT
THE LITTLE GIRL WAS A VICTIM OF FOUL PLAY,
AND THE RIVER IS NOT FAR FROM HER HOUSE.
CORPORAL MIKE JOY BRIEFS THE DIVE TEAM.
Narrator: COLD-WATER DIVES ARE ESPECIALLY RISKY,
EVEN FOR VETERAN DIVERS LIKE SERGEANT THRASHER,
WHO'S BEEN ON THE TEAM FOR SIX YEARS.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE FACE WITH COLD-WEATHER DIVES
IS OUR EQUIPMENT FREEZING UP.
YOUR AIR JUST COMES OUT OF YOUR BREATHING APPARATUS.
YOU RUN OUT OF AIR.
32.3.
DOESN'T WATER FREEZE AT 32?
YOU GET COLD TO THE POINT YOU KNOW YOU'RE REALLY COLD,
CALL THE DIVE, OKAY?
Narrator: THRASHER IS TOWED UP AND DOWN THE RIVER BY THE BOAT.
HE IS LOOKING FOR ANY SIGN OF THE TODDLER.
Thrasher: WE DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S IN THIS RIVER.
WE'RE JUST GOING WITH THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY AREAS
THAT SHE MAY BE.
WE'D LIKE TO FIND HER.
OF COURSE, WE'D LIKE TO FIND HER ALIVE,
BUT WE'D LIKE TO FIND HER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
Narrator: 20 MINUTES INTO THE DIVE,
THRASHER SUDDENLY SURFACES.
Thrasher: THIS IS A MAJOR INVESTIGATION.
A CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED.
A CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
WE DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S IN THIS RIVER.
BUT WE'D LIKE TO FIND HER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
Narrator: UNABLE TO STAY UNDER ANY LONGER,
SERGEANT THRASHER CALLS OFF HIS DIVE.
[ MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ] I-IT'S COLD, BUDDY.
MY FINGERS ARE PAINFULLY NUMB.
WE'VE CLEARED QUITE A BIT OF THE RIVER BOTTOM,
BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING.
I'M GONNA GET THAWED OUT AND GET WARMED UP
AND GO FOR IT AGAIN.
WE'LL KEEP LOOKING UNTIL SOMEONE TELLS US TO STOP.
WE TRY TO STAY EMOTIONALLY DETACHED.
WE HAVE A JOB TO DO, AND WE JUST GO OUT AND DO IT.
BUT IT'*** HOME, AND...
WE'D LIKE TO FIND HER.
Narrator: THE WARDENS WILL CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH
OF THE AREA'S RIVERS AND STREAMS.
HEY, ABBY, GIRL.
HEY.
LET'S GO SEE MAMA AND BEN.
120 MILES AWAY IN THE CORNER OF THE STATE CALLED DOWNEAST,
WARDEN ALAN CURTIS IS JOINING STATE BIOLOGISTS TO TAG BEARS.
THE BIOLOGISTS AND WARDENS, WE WORK FOR THE SAME DEPARTMENT.
WE WEAR THE SAME PATCH ON OUR SLEEVE.
WE JUST WORK IN DIFFERENT BUREAUS.
WE'RE THE BUREAU OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND THEY'RE THE MORE SCIENTIFIC DIVISION.
TODAY, WE'RE DOING SOME TELEMETRY
ON SOME RADIO-COLLARED BEARS.
Narrator: WARDEN PILOT DAN DAFOE
IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH TODAY'S OPERATION.
HE'LL BE TRACKING DOZENS OF BEARS
THAT HAVE BEEN FITTED WITH RADIO TRANSMITTER COLLARS
IN ORDER TO HELP THE BIOLOGISTS LOCATE THEM.
WE HAVE ANTENNAS ON THE WING STRUTS,
AND WE HAVE A CONTROL BOX
THAT BEEPS A SIGNAL IN OUR HEADPHONES
THAT WILL DIRECT US TO THE BEARS.
WE'LL LOOK FOR BEARS DENNING IN THE WINTER
SO THAT THE BIOLOGISTS CAN GO IN
AND SEE THE CUBS THAT HAVE BEEN BORN.
Curtis: ANYTIME YOU'RE DEALING WITH A WILD ANIMAL,
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL,
THERE'S ALWAYS A LEVEL OF DANGER,
BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A BEAR
AND YOU'RE GOING IN AND WAKING IT UP
AND DIVING HEADFIRST INTO ITS HOUSE,
YOU KNOW, THE DANGER'S A LITTLE BIT ELEVATED.
LET'S GO FIND A BEAR.
Narrator: DAFOE LOCATES A BEAR
THAT GAVE BIRTH TO TWO CUBS THE PREVIOUS SPRING
AND DIRECTS THE BIOLOGISTS TO THE AREA.
THE TEAM WILL THEN USE THEIR ANTENNA
TO PINPOINT THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE BEAR'S DEN.
2 1/2.
ONCE THEY LOCATE THE DEN,
THE BIOLOGISTS WILL TRANQUILIZE ALL OF THE BEARS THEY FIND
SO THAT THEY CAN WEIGH THEM
AND PLACE AN I.D. TAG ON THE YEARLING CUBS
FOR FUTURE TRACKING OF THE BEAR POPULATION.
SEE THE MUDDY FOOTPRINTS HERE.
YOU CAN SEE THE MOTHER'S TRACK AND THE YEARLING'S TRACK.
SMALL ONE AND A BIG ONE.
Narrator: THE TRANQUILIZER THAT THE BIOLOGISTS USE
IS A HALLUCINOGEN AND TAKES AT LEAST 10 MINUTES
TO WORK ON A FULL-GROWN BEAR.
Curtis: WHENEVER YOU ENCOUNTER A BEAR IN THE WILD,
THE FIRST THING IT WANTS TO DO IS GET AWAY FROM YOU.
BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, WE'RE NOT GIVING IT THAT CHANCE.
WE WANT TO SURROUND IT, AND WE WANT TO KIND OF PIN IT DOWN.
Narrator: HUMANS ARE NO MATCH FOR A FULL-GROWN BLACK BEAR.
THEY CAN WEIGH AS MUCH AS 600 POUNDS
AND RUN AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 35 MILES PER HOUR.
BEARS ARE AN EXTREMELY STRONG ANIMAL.
THEY'RE LIKE A GIANT MUSCLE TIED TOGETHER WITH BONES,
AND IN THE RIGHT SITUATION,
THAT CAN MAKE THEM A VERY DEADLY ANIMAL TO DEAL WITH.
Narrator: THE SIGNAL LEADS TO A HOLLOW UNDER A TREE,
WHERE THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEN.
BIOLOGIST LISA BATES SEES ONLY ONE SLEEPING BEAR INSIDE,
SO SHE REACHES IN WITH A TRANQUILIZER SYRINGE
TO INJECT IT.
THERE'S NO SIGN OF THE MOTHER IN THE DEN,
SO THE TEAM NEEDS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HER
IN CASE SHE RETURNS.
I'M GONNA PASS IT TO YOU,
AND YOU CAN PUT HIM ON THE SLEEPING BAG.
Curtis: YEAH.
GRAB HIM BY THE SCRUFF OF THE NECK
LIKE YOU WOULD YOUR PUPPY.
COME ON, BUDDY.
Man: PUT HIM RIGHT ON THE BAG.
PERFECT.
THEY SHED THEIR FOOTPADS EVERY YEAR.
WE TAKE THAT AS A DNA SAMPLE.
THERE'S ONE.
HE'S GOT A NICE, NICE, BEAUTIFUL, FLUFFY COAT.
Narrator: CURTIS SPOTS ANOTHER BEAR NEARBY.
[ GUNSHOT ]
YOU SEE IT? YOU SEE IT?
THE TRANQUILIZER DART HITS ITS TARGET,
BUT THE BIOLOGISTS CAN'T LET THE BEAR GET AWAY
BEFORE IT'S KNOCKED OUT.
IT'S ANOTHER CUB...
PRETTY EXCITING.
Narrator: ...WHICH MEANS THAT THE MOTHER BEAR
IS STILL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.
200 MILES AWAY, SERGEANT THRASHER IS ON HIS WAY
TO MEET UP WITH WARDEN STEVENS, WHO SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE COLD,
WAITING FOR POACHERS.
WE'RE HEADING UP INTO THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF THE STATE.
IT'S RUGGED COUNTRY.
WARDEN STEVENS GOT A COMPLAINT OF A COYOTE CAUGHT IN A SNARE.
SNARING IS ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF MAINE.
WARDEN STEVENS WAS OUT AT 3:30 THIS MORNING, WORKING ON THIS.
BITTER COLD THIS MORNING, ABOUT 20 BELOW.
THAT'S DETERMINATION.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.
LONG, COLD MORNING, HUH?
YEAH.
WHO'S THIS GUY?
THAT WOULD BE THE GENTLEMAN
THAT FOUND THE COYOTE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I'M SCOTT THRASHER, SERGEANT FOR THE AREA.
YOU GOT ANY THOUGHTS ON WHO SET THE SNARE?
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I FOUND THAT COYOTE,
THAT'S NOT WHAT I EXPECTED TO FIND.
'CAUSE THE FIRST THING CHUCK SAW
WAS LIGHTS AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
I COULD SEE DOWN THROUGH THE TREES
TWO GUYS COMING UP THE ROAD.
WALKING?
WALKING.
AND THEN I SAW THE CAR BACK OUT
AND TAKE OFF DOWN THE ROAD FAST.
IT WAS 50 BELOW ZERO THAT MORNING.
THAT'S THE THING THAT'S WEIRD ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.
WHAT WAS SOMEBODY OUT DOING THAT TIME IN THE MORNING?
YEAH.
AND I'M WORRIED NOW THAT MY HOUND GOT CAUGHT IN ONE.
GONNA GET HUNG UP IN A SNARE?
YOU KNOW?
THANKS, CHUCK. CATCH YOU LATER.
Narrator: WARDEN STEVENS LEADS THRASHER INTO THE WOODS
TO SHOW HIM THE SNARED COYOTE.
SNARES ARE ILLEGAL IN MAINE
BECAUSE THEY CAN CATCH PROTECTED ANIMALS INADVERTENTLY.
Stevens: IF YOU SNARE A NONTARGET ANIMAL
LIKE A LYNX OR A DEER OR SOMEBODY'S DOG,
THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE DEAD
WHEN THE PERSON SHOWS UP TO CHECK THE SNARE,
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S ILLEGAL.
IF YOU HAVE A LEGAL TRAP,
YOU HAVE TO TAG IT WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS,
WHICH THIS ISN'T
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THIS PERSON DOESN'T WANT TO BE FOUND.
Thrasher: ALTHOUGH WE ALWAYS HOPE
TO JUST WALK UP ON SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING WRONG,
IT USUALLY IS NOT THE CASE.
THIS ONE'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK.
WHAT ABOUT WALKING DOWN IN THERE
AND TRYING TO CAPTURE A PICTURE
OF SOMEONE COMING RIGHT THROUGH HERE?
Narrator: THEY SET UP A CAMERA
TO GET A SNAPSHOT OF THE LAWBREAKER
WHEN HE COMES TO RETRIEVE THE COYOTE.
Thrasher: GAME CAMERA WORKS OFF A SENSOR.
WHEN SOMETHING CROSSES IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA,
IT'LL SNAP A PICTURE.
Thrasher: CHECK IT TOMORROW.
LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN CATCH THIS GUY.
YEAH.
Narrator: BACK OVER IN DOWNEAST,
THE BIOLOGISTS WEIGH AND TAG THE TWO CUBS THAT THEY TRANQUILIZED.
THEY MUST WORK QUICKLY
IN CASE THE MOTHER BEAR RETURNS TO THE DEN.
YEAH.
IS HE THE SAME AGE AS THE OTHER ONE -- JUST A YEAR?
YEAH.
CAN YOU PASS ME THAT ONE?
THEY FEEL LIKE WARM, CUDDLY PUPPIES.
Bates: THEY SHOULDN'T REMEMBER ANY OF THIS.
IT'S JUST GONNA SEEM LIKE A BAD DREAM.
Narrator: WHILE THE BIOLOGISTS
CONTINUE TO TRACK BEARS IN THE AREA,
WARDEN CURTIS RESUMES HIS REGULAR PATROL.
JUST AS HE CLIMBS IN HIS TRUCK,
CURTIS RECEIVES A CALL FROM PILOT DAFOE.
DAFOE HAS TRACKED A SUSPICIOUS SIGNAL FROM A RADIO COLLAR
THAT REQUIRES A RESPONSE FROM A WARDEN.
I'M LOOKING DOWN AT A BACKYARD OR A GROCERY STORE.
THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR WRONG GOING HERE.
10-4, SOUNDS GOOD. SEE YOU IN A BIT.
THE PILOT SAID THE PING WAS COMING FROM AROUND A BUILDING.
COULD BE SOMEBODY POACHED A BEAR
AND DISCARDED THE COLLAR OUT THERE.
Narrator: THE SIGNAL IS COMING FROM A NEARBY TOWN,
AND IT HASN'T MOVED ALL DAY.
THE BEAR MIGHT BE INJURED AND DANGEROUS,
OR IT COULD BE A CASE OF POACHING.
Curtis: WHY IS THERE A BEAR COLLAR BEHIND THIS BUILDING?
IT'S NOT HIBERNATING, SO, OBVIOUSLY,
THE BEAR HAS BEEN KILLED OR TRAPPED OR SOMETHING.
Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME FOR "ONLY IN MAINE."
WHY ARE THESE GUYS MOWING THE LAWN AT NIGHT?
THE ANSWER WHEN WE RETURN.
Narrator: MAINE IS A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER.
UP HERE, WOULD-BE RACECAR DRIVERS
MAKE DO WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.
SIT BACK, RELAX, AND ENJOY THIS MOW-DOWN SHOW.
HEY, THE GREEN FLAG IS UP, AND THESE GUYS ARE NOW RACING!
Narrator: THESE MODIFIED LAWN MOWERS
CAN CRANK IT UP TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING GOING
FIVE TIMES AS FAST AS IT SHOULD BE,
IT'S PRETTY HAIRY.
Announcer: OH!
OH!
GOT A RUNAWAY TRACTOR IN THE NUMBER 88.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
YEAH!
THEY WERE DOING SOME TELEMETRY ON SOME RADIO-COLLARED BEARS.
ONE OF THE COLLARS IS STATIONARY BEHIND THIS BUILDING.
IT'S NOT HIBERNATING, SO, OBVIOUSLY,
THE BEAR HAS BEEN KILLED OR TRAPPED OR SOMETHING.
Dafoe: THE PINGS ARE LOUDER.
Narrator: PILOT DAFOE LANDS HIS PLANE ON A NEARBY LAKE
AND HANDS OFF HIS RADIO RECEIVER TO CURTIS,
WHO CONTINUES THE SEARCH FROM THE GROUND.
WELL, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THE PILOT SAID THAT PING WAS COMING FROM A SMALL BUILDING
SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN THIS LOCAL AREA,
SO I'M GONNA TURN THIS THING ON.
I SHOULD START HEARING A BEEP
ONCE WE GET INTO RANGE OF THE COLLAR.
[ BEEPING ]
IT'S GETTING STRONGER.
HERE'S A TRAIL.
THAT'S A SMALL BUILDING -- BUNCH OF STUFF OUT BACK.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
IT'S GETTING WEAKER NOW. WE'VE GONE BY IT.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
SIGNAL'S DEFINITELY GETTING STRONGER.
WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE.
OH, YEAH, THIS IS GOOD. THIS IS GOOD.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
ALL RIGHT, WE MADE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
THIS IS DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY THE PLACE.
Narrator: THE SIGNAL LEADS CURTIS
TO A NEARBY TAGGING STATION AND GROCERY STORE.
I'M GONNA RUN IN AND TALK TO THESE PEOPLE
AND SEE WHERE THEY'RE --
SEE IF THEY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT FIRST.
HEY, THEY'RE PINGING A BEAR COLLAR RIGHT HERE.
HAVE YOU GOT ONE?
SOMEBODY SHOT IT THEN? OKAY.
ANYTIME ONE COMES IN, GIVE ME A CALL ON THE PHONE,
AND I'LL COME PICK IT UP, SO...
Narrator: THE TAGGING STATION
WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE REPORTED THE COLLAR
TO THE WARDENS OR STATE BIOLOGISTS
SOON AFTER THEY RECEIVED IT.
Curtis: AND THE ELUSIVE COLLAR THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
THE KILL WAS LEGAL.
JUST NOBODY HAD COME AND PICKED THE COLLAR UP YET,
SO WE'LL TAKE IT BACK.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORTH QUITE A BIT OF MONEY, LIKE 2,000 BUCKS.
YOU KNOW, THE BIOLOGISTS
WILL PROBABLY USE THIS AGAIN THIS SUMMER.
Narrator: ONE WEEK LATER, WARDEN STEVENS IS ON HIS WAY
TO MEET SERGEANT THRASHER
FOR AN UPDATE ON THE CASE OF THE ILLEGAL SNARE.
Stevens: I WENT AND REMOVED THE CAMERA AND AT THE SAME TIME,
REMOVED THE COYOTE IN THE SNARE.
BUT NOBODY VISITED THE -- THE SNARE AND THE COYOTE
DURING THE TIME THAT WE HAD THE CAMERA UP.
Narrator: HOWEVER, LAST NIGHT, STEVENS HAPPENED UPON A SUSPECT.
HE WAS RESPONDING TO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON A ROAD
NEAR WHERE THE SNARE WAS FOUND.
THIS COULD BE A BIG BREAK IN THIS CASE.
I RESPONDED TO A REPORT
OF A VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITH A DRUNK DRIVER,
AND HE WAS ALSO A PERSON THAT HAD FELONY CONVICTIONS,
AND HE HAD ONE FIREARM RIGHT ON HIS PERSON
AND SOME MORE IN HIS VEHICLE.
SO I SEARCHED THE VEHICLE. I TURNED UP THESE SNARES.
YOU KNOW, SAME TYPE OF PART
FOR SECURING IT AROUND THE TREE.
NEARLY IDENTICAL.
YEAH, REALLY CLOSE.
Stevens: AND THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED
VERY CLOSE TO THE AREA
WHERE THIS ILLEGAL SNARING OF THE COYOTE
HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ALL THIS ADDS UP TO TELLING ME
HE'S VERY LIKELY THE ONE RESPONSIBLE
FOR SETTING THE SNARES UP.
Narrator: STEVENS AND THRASHER
HEAD OVER TO THE SUSPECT'S RESIDENCE
TO QUESTION HIM ABOUT THE SNARES.
Thrasher: SEVERAL PEOPLE
THAT I'VE DISCUSSED THIS CASE WITH ME SAY,
"IT IS JUST A COYOTE," WHICH, YOU KNOW,
I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF IT, BUT IT'S AN ILLEGAL METHOD.
THERE'S A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR IT TO PICK UP ANOTHER ANIMAL
LIKE A BOBCAT OR A LYNX OR A DEER.
Narrator: LAST NIGHT,
WHEN STEVENS ARRESTED THE MAN, HE WAS ARMED.
TODAY, THE WARDENS ARE UNSURE OF WHAT THEY'LL ENCOUNTER
WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT HIS HOUSE UNANNOUNCED.
I'M GONNA SAY THAT'S HIS CAR UP THERE.
GAME WARDEN. HOLD ON ONE SEC.
ARE THERE ANY FIREARMS IN THERE AT ALL?
NO, SIR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ON YOU?
NO, SIR.
YOU GOT ANY KNIVES ON YOU OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
JUST A LEATHERMAN AND A POCKETKNIFE.
OKAY.
EVERYTHING'S THERE.
EVERYTHING -- I MEAN, THE SNARE IN THE WOODS.
YOU GOT SNARES. YOU'RE COMING OFF THE ROAD.
YOU DO APPRECIATE,
LIKE, HOW COINCIDENTAL THAT SEEMS, REALLY.
Stevens: SNARING IS ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF MAINE.
IF YOU SNARE A NONTARGET ANIMAL, THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE DEAD
WHEN THE PERSON SHOWS UP TO CHECK THE SNARE.
Stevens: I RESPONDED TO A REPORT
OF A VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITH A DRUNK DRIVER.
I SEARCHED THE VEHICLE. I TURNED UP THESE SNARES.
YOU DO APPRECIATE,
LIKE, HOW COINCIDENTAL THAT SEEMS, REALLY, SERIOUSLY.
NOT EVERYBODY RUNS AROUND --
IN MY TIME, VERY FEW PEOPLE
I RUN INTO EVEN HAVE SNARES, YOU KNOW?
RIGHT.
Thrasher: AND YOU TOLD WARDEN STEVENS
THAT YOU WERE CHECKING YOUR TRAP LINE
AND WATCHING THE WILDLIFE.
RUNNING TRAP LINES AND OBSERVING WILDLIFE --
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAPPING?
YOU SAID YOU HAD A ---
SO, YOU HAD SNARES IN YOUR VEHICLE BECAUSE WHY?
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRIOR FISH-AND-GAME VIOLATIONS?
I CAN UNDERSTAND SOMEONE,
YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR A LITTLE EXTRA MEAT.
YOU OBVIOUSLY -- I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IN THIS SITUATION
PROBABLY COULD --
IF I KEEP ON WORKING AND IT COMES BACK TO YOU,
THE FLOODGATE'S GONNA BE OPEN. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS GETTING FRUSTRATING.
[ SPUTTERS ]
GETTING FRUSTRATING?
EVERYTHING'S POINTING TOWARDS HIM --
SAME ROAD, JUST THE FACT THAT HE'S GOT SNARES.
GET IN THE TRUCK ALONE.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE JUST YET.
JUST, TO ME, THERE'S REALLY NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
AT THIS POINT THAT YOU'RE MY MAN FOR THE SNARE.
WHAT IF YOU CAUGHT A COYOTE BY MISTAKE
AND YOU'RE TRYING TO GET SOME FOOD?
I'M ASKING.
THAT'S ANOTHER SCENARIO THAT CROSSES MY MIND.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE YOU PUT THE SNARE FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE
AND WHAT YOU GOT WAS A COYOTE BY MISTAKE.
I GUESS I'M ALL SET WITH YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU LATER.
Thrasher: I'M NOT GONNA RULE HIM OUT COMPLETELY YET.
WE'LL GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL US
AND MAYBE A CHANCE TO THINK IT OVER,
AND THEY END UP CONFESSING SOMETIMES.
HE'LL BE STILL LISTED AS A SUSPECT
UNTIL WE CLOSE THE CASE.
Narrator: WITHOUT A CONFESSION OR ANY ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE,
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO CHARGE THE MAN.
THERE ARE JUST SOME PIECES TO THIS CASE
THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO,
AND I GUESS THAT'S FRUSTRATING,
NOT KNOWING THE ONE OR TWO LITTLE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE
THAT PUT IT ALL TOGETHER FOR ME, BUT...
KEEP TRYING. THAT'S ALL I CAN DO.
Narrator: AS THE SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE,
THE WARDENS ARE ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT'S NEXT.
Curtis: WE'RE COMING OUT OF WINTER, BABY.
IT'S TIME TO GO TO SPRING.
AROUND HERE, WE CALL IT MUD SEASON.
NOW WE'RE GETTING RIGHT INTO OPEN-WATER FISHING,
BROOK FISHING...
[ TURKEY CALL SOUNDING ] ...SPRING TURKEY SEASON.
THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE IN THE SUMMER
ON ALL OF OUR LAKES.
WE'RE IN BOATS. WE'RE ON ATVs.
A TON OF TOURISTS COME IN THE SUMMERTIME.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT AROUND THE CORNER,
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING.
ONE MINUTE, YOU MIGHT BE WORKING OUT ON A LAKE,
AND THEN 20 MINUTES LATER,
YOU MIGHT BE CHASING A POACHER THROUGH THE WOODS.
Man: I AIN'T GOT A GUN!
GET ON THE GROUND. DON'T RESIST.
YOU COME ACROSS ANYTHING FROM A DRUNK DRIVER TO A BANK ROBBERY
TO A STOLEN CAR TO A DRUG DEAL.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
WE WANT ACTION. THAT'S WHAT WE TRAIN FOR.
ZERO TO 100 IN A SECOND.
NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ] MAN: We need a game warden.
[ SIREN WAILING ]