OLYMPIA – Free classes will be held this month in four locations throughout the state for citizens who want to help prevent poaching of the state’s fish and wildlife.

The two-hour training sessions – scheduled this month in Yakima, Longview, Belfair and Vancouver – are jointly sponsored by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the Eyes in the Woods Association and other outdoor organizations and sporting goods stores.

The classes are the first of a series of Crime Observation and Reporting Training (CORT) sessions scheduled this year to train and certify citizens as non-confrontational witnesses in fish and wildlife enforcement efforts.

“Our goal is to create a network of citizens trained in identifying, documenting and reporting crimes against our natural resources,” said Lt. Rich Mann of WDFW’s enforcement program. “While no one but a certified law-enforcement officer should ever approach a suspect, we often rely on citizens’ help in making a case.”

All four meetings are scheduled from 7-9 p.m. on the following dates and locations: