Crestview Man Caught Baiting Wildlife in Eglin Wildlife Management Area

Okaloosa County, Fla. – On January 18, 2024, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Investigator Justin Pifer received information of a suspicious vehicle parked near a locked cable gate of the Eglin Wildlife Management Area on the side of Highway 285 at range road 434.

When Investigator Pifer and Officer Oliver arrived on scene, they observed a green Ford F-150 pick-up truck parked at the locked cable gate. A short time later, they observed a male and female riding bicycles down Range Road 434 towards Highway 285. According to the arrest report, as the two FWC officers started walking towards the two individuals to conduct a permit inspection the male, later identified as 38-year-old Jeremy Alex Ruskowski of Crestview, quickly entered the wood line while the female continued riding her bicycle toward them. When asked, the female informed the two officers Ruskowski entered the woods to relieve himself. Investigator Pifer continued walking toward the spot where Ruskowski entered the wood line. Prior to arriving at the spot, Ruskowski exited the wood line and continued riding down the road while holding a game camera.

When asked what he was doing in the area, Ruskowski replied he was pre-season scouting the area. With Ruskowski waiting with the female and officer Oliver, Investigator Pifer searched the area where Ruskowski entered the wood line and recovered a black backpack containing several pounds of whole kernel corn commonly used to bait wildlife.

With Ruskowski denying owner ship of the corn filled backpack, the officers seized the backpack along with the game camera and allowed Ruskowski and the female to leave the area.

After obtaining a search warrant for the game camera, photos were recovered from the memory card in the camera identifying Ruskowski on the date and time in question, wearing what appeared to be the same black backpack. Ruskowski was later arrested for Florida Administrative Code 68A-15.004(10) which states No person shall place, expose, or distribute any grain or other food for wildlife on any wildlife management area.