12-06-2009, 01:26 PM
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[center]Connecticut DEP and US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Investigating Death of Federally-Protected Owl
[/size]The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement are actively investigating the death of a barred owl found in an illegal trap in East Haddam last week.
"We are addressing a very
situation where the apparent improper, illegal use of a trap has resulted in the death of a federally-protected bird," said DEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette. "Poaching this bird is a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and carries fines of up to $15,000 and up to 6 months in jail. We hope to prosecute the person or persons responsible. "
DEP’s Environmental Conservation Police have obtained possession of the trap and the owl, discovered on Nov. 25 in the Moodus section of East Haddam. Attempts to save the injured owl were unsuccessful and it was euthanized by a local veterinarian.
The trap, an unpadded foothold trap, is only legal in Connecticut when placed under water. Used properly, these traps are valuable for capturing aquatic furbearers, such as beavers and muskrats, and will not capture terrestrial animals.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct a forensic examination on the owl as part of the investigation," said Deputy Commissioner Frechette. "We hope that the forensic results and a joint investigation by our two agencies will determine how the owl came to be in the trap. What concerns us most is that the characteristics of this trap indicate it was used by a poacher who exhibited a flagrant disregard for the law."
Frechette added, "This situation cannot be equated with trapping, which is highly regulated in Connecticut. Responsibly conducted, trapping can alleviate or prevent property damage caused by beavers and muskrats including flooding of land and homes and the destruction of wells, roads or septic systems. Trapping, raccoons, coyotes and fishers also helps prevent crop damage or attacks on livestock, and is also used as a tool to protect threatened and endangered species."
Detailed information on trapping rules and regulations are available on the DEP website at [#0000ff]http://www.ct.gov/dep/
[/#0000ff]Anyone with information about this case can call the state DEP 24-houry Emergency line at 860-424-3333.
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[center]Connecticut DEP and US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Investigating Death of Federally-Protected Owl
[/size]The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement are actively investigating the death of a barred owl found in an illegal trap in East Haddam last week.
"We are addressing a very
situation where the apparent improper, illegal use of a trap has resulted in the death of a federally-protected bird," said DEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette. "Poaching this bird is a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and carries fines of up to $15,000 and up to 6 months in jail. We hope to prosecute the person or persons responsible. "DEP’s Environmental Conservation Police have obtained possession of the trap and the owl, discovered on Nov. 25 in the Moodus section of East Haddam. Attempts to save the injured owl were unsuccessful and it was euthanized by a local veterinarian.
The trap, an unpadded foothold trap, is only legal in Connecticut when placed under water. Used properly, these traps are valuable for capturing aquatic furbearers, such as beavers and muskrats, and will not capture terrestrial animals.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct a forensic examination on the owl as part of the investigation," said Deputy Commissioner Frechette. "We hope that the forensic results and a joint investigation by our two agencies will determine how the owl came to be in the trap. What concerns us most is that the characteristics of this trap indicate it was used by a poacher who exhibited a flagrant disregard for the law."
Frechette added, "This situation cannot be equated with trapping, which is highly regulated in Connecticut. Responsibly conducted, trapping can alleviate or prevent property damage caused by beavers and muskrats including flooding of land and homes and the destruction of wells, roads or septic systems. Trapping, raccoons, coyotes and fishers also helps prevent crop damage or attacks on livestock, and is also used as a tool to protect threatened and endangered species."
Detailed information on trapping rules and regulations are available on the DEP website at [#0000ff]http://www.ct.gov/dep/
[/#0000ff]Anyone with information about this case can call the state DEP 24-houry Emergency line at 860-424-3333.
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