April 2009

On February 17, 2009, Officer Dan Stermen of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) heard gunshots coming from a known nesting area for birds. He and Lt. Wayne Maahs observed people shooting the birds as they were coming home to roost. The officers actually witnessed birds falling to the ground. They arrested seven people, initially charging four with misdemeanor trespassing and charging three with felony trespassing with a firearm. They confiscated rifles, shotguns and pistols, and collected the bodies of 21 dead birds, who are protected by federal law and/or protected in Florida as “species of special concern,” including white ibises, blue herons, a tri-colored heron and a snowy egret. According to an FWC spokesperson, “One of the lieutenants involved in this said that in his 27 years in the job, he had never seen such callous treatment of wildlife. These people were just firing for fun.”

U.S. Navy officials identified four of the seven suspects as recent graduates of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. who are currently enrolled at the Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, Fla. Besides the trespassing charges, State and Federal charges are pending against all seven suspects.

Here is a news story, including photos and video, about this incident:
Men accused of killing wading birds were Navy officers in training
Naples Daily News, February 21, 2009

Take Action!
The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is asking people to praise the investigative work of Officer Dan Stermen and Lt. Wayne Maah by calling the FWC office, and to mail a polite letter asking the Navy to discharge the officers involved in the shooting.  Visit ALDF’s website to find out how you can Take Action!

Copyright © 2009 ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND