FOX 4 WFTX - Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples News, Weather7 arrested for killing 21 birds
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Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) were able to arrest a group of people suspected of shooting and killing protected birds.
Officer Dan Stermen was on routine patrol of Curcie Grade and County Road 92 in Collier County, when he heard gunfire coming from the direction of a bird rookery. As he got closer, he observed birds flying erratically and some falling from the sky. Stermen called for backup and waited near some cars that were parked on a peninsula leading to a lake. The area is marked "no trespassing."
Charged with felony trespass with a firearm:
Zachary J. Mato (DOB 8/16/86)
Cullen M. Shaughnessy (DOB 8/5/86)
Joseph W. Gursky (DOB 3/25/86)
Charged with misdemeanor trespassing:
Keith G. Lisa (DOB 3/1/77)
Alexander B. Wilhelm (DOB 9/14/84)
Mark L. McClure (DOB 12/15/85)
Stephanie M. Meads (DOB 7/11/85)
and booked into the Collier County jail.
All were booked in the Collier County Jail. Additional charges are pending for all seven suspects.
Officers collected 21 dead birds at the scene. The birds had been shot. Some of the birds are classified as "species of special concern," which means they are protected under state law. Some of the protected birds found at the scene included white ibis and blue heron.
Some of the other birds found shot to death included tree swallows and cormorants. These birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty act.
"In my 27 years as an officer, I've never seen people deliberately shoot and kill birds and just leave them for dead," said FWC Lt. Wayne Maahs. "This is truly a heinous act."
Joanna Vaught of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida say this cruel crime will have a ripple effect, "each one could have had five eggs in the nest and those babies are not going to hatch now." She is sickened by this senseless act of violence, "it almost leaves you speechless that someone could have such disregard for another life."
Gabriella Ferraro of FWC tells Fox 4 News this a malicious crime. It appears the suspects killed the birds for fun as they did not collect the birds - they just left them for dead.
JUSTINE WALDMAN
jwaldman@fox4now.com
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