Contacts
Edward Spoon, 608/221-1206 ext. 15
Ed_Spoon@fws.gov
Weyco Group Inc., of Glendale, Wis., pleaded guilty today to
unlawfully killing a ring-billed gull, a federally protected
species of migratory bird, and was fined $15,000. Weyco Group,
Inc. entered the plea as part of a plea agreement in which the
corporation admitted violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew V. Richmond prosecuted
the case, which resulted in a $15,000 criminal fine, the maximum
under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and a $15,000 donation to
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to be used for
conservation of colonial waterbirds. Weyco Group Inc. entered the
guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Gorence in
Milwaukee.
The case began on June 16 when tenants of nearby buildings
notified the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that
people atop the Weyco warehouse were killing gulls with shovels
and throwing birds and nests over the side of the building.
Wisconsin DNR Conservation Wardens notified U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Special Agent Ed Spoon, who began an
investigation. Agent Spoon discovered that Weyco employees had,
in fact, killed and removed several hundred young ring-billed and
herring gulls from the roof of the Glendale building.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had issued Weyco Group a
depredation permit to remove gull nests and eggs from their roof.
During the permit-issuing process, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife
Services, specifically told Weyco Group that the permit did not
allow the killing of live birds.
“Its important that people understand Weyco Group violated
the conditions of a depredation permit. The Fish and Wildlife
Service and Department of Agriculture will work with anyone
having problems with migratory birds. But, once a permit is
issued, it is very important that the permit be complied with. A
depredation permit is very specific-- it is not a license to
kill,” said Special Agent Spoon.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is a federal
wildlife law that protects waterfowl, songbirds, hawks, owls and
many other game and non-game bird species. Enforced by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, the act was passed in 1916 to stop the
decline of bird populations which were being decimated by market
hunters seeking meat, as well as feathers for the fashion
industry. The Act regulates sport hunting of migratory game birds
and provides full protection for many other species of migratory
birds. Congress recently approved raising the maximum fine for
violations of the Act from $5,000 to $15,000. Today is the first
time the new maximum fine has been levied against a corporation
in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the
principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting,
and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the
continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages
the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprising
more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66
national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field
stations.
The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations,
restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores
wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid
program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in
excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife
agencies. For further information about the programs and
activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great
Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/
-FWS-
|
