LEXINGTON, Ky. — With a few clicks of a mouse, it's possible to find just about anything for sale online, either through auctions or classified ads.

But buyers and sellers beware, if it's wildlife or wildlife parts, you could get a visit from your local conservation officer, or worse, and end up in state or federal court.

"The Internet is driving the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts," said conservation officer Jeff Finn, who is assigned to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Internet Investigative Unit. "Sometimes it's ignorance of the law, but in the case of trophy deer, it's the lure of big money."

Internet transactions involving wildlife are being closely monitored by law enforcement officials, and people convicted can receive fines and/or jail time.

With the exception of a few species, all wildlife is protected by state and/or federal law, and permits are required to buy, sell, transport or possess live animals in captivity, or sell animal parts. Only wildlife born in captivity, and raised by a licensed breeder, may be sold. It's illegal to sell wild-caught wildlife.

". . . It's only recently that states started looking into the situation," Finn said. "What I've noticed, since I started looking around on the Internet, is the volume of trade has increased dramatically."

The department started its investigative unit in 2006, soon after Col. Robert Milligan became its head of law enforcement.

"There's a lot of illegal activity related to the sale of wildlife. We knew we had to look into it," Milligan said.

Milligan said law enforcement efforts are being focused on those who are taking and selling animals illegally.

"We want to get them looking over their shoulders," he said.

One of the first big cases involved the sale of piranha, a South American fish species known for its sharp teeth and aggressive feeding behavior.

"It's illegal to possess piranha in Kentucky (and 20 other states)," Finn said. "I subpoenaed one Web site for their records, and 20 people who bought piranha had a conservation officer knocking at their door. A lot of people were caught off guard."

It's legal to possess some wildlife species in captivity, but the proper paperwork is required.

"When mammals are imported into Kentucky, buyers must have permits in advance," Finn said. "A veterinarian must certify that that animal is free of disease, and a transportation permit is needed (to enter Kentucky)."

Deer and elk may not be imported into Kentucky under any circumstances because of the risk of spreading Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a neurological disorder now found in wild deer and/or elk herds in 10 states and two Canadian provinces, according to the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance (www.cwd-info.org).

It's also illegal to import fox, coyote and raccoon into Kentucky because of the risk of spreading distemper and rabies.

"There's big money involved in selling big (large antlered) white-tail bucks, and the temptation is to bring these animals here in the middle of the night. The people that are trying to do this know it's against the law," Finn said.

A trophy buck can net the seller thousands of dollars, and the buyer can make a big profit selling the right to kill the deer in a fenced enclosure.

This kind of preserve shooting, often referred to as a "canned hunt," is considered reprehensible by ethical, fair-chase hunters.

Web sites such as www.whitetaildeerforsale.net offer trophy bucks for as much as $4,250 each, and www.whitetailquest.com sells buck semen for as much as $1,200 per straw.

In many Internet sales, the legality of the transaction is never discussed.

"My advice is to check with your local conservation officer," Finn said. "You had better find out what the law is. You could be trying to buy a federally threatened or endangered species."

Federally protected species include waterfowl, hawks, owls, eagles and other birds of prey. It's illegal to buy and sell their parts too — feathers and talons. Even songbirds, excluding starlings and house sparrows, are protected, and mounted birds can't be offered
for sale.

"That's something to keep in mind if you're planning on opening a restaurant and want a wildlife decor," Finn said.

One of the biggest illegal trades in the Southeast might be in deer antlers and the feet (spurs) and beards of wild turkeys, both of which are protected by state law.

Shed antlers might be another matter. They are technically a wildlife part, but no animal was killed. In late winter, antlers naturally fall off a deer's head to make room for new growth. Shed antlers can be found in the woods, usually close to where deer bed during cold weather.

Finn said he believes that if it was ever legal for anyone to sell a mounted deer head, that would open the door for Kentucky's quality deer herd to be poached and sold.

"These days everything's about money," he said.