https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/03/14/mass-killing-raptors-leads-charges-against-california-man/426926002/'Mass killing’ of raptors leads to charges against California man
USA TODAY NETWORKBenjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette-Journal Published 9:56 p.m. ET March 14, 2018 | Updated 9:56 p.m. ET March 14, 2018
RENO — A California man was arrested after wildlife authorities found 126 dead raptors, two dead bobcats and a stuffed mountain lion on a rural property near a wildlife refuge.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the arrest Wednesday after making the gruesome discovery in Standish, Calif.
Richard Parker, 67, faces multiple charges, including taking birds of prey, taking migratory non-game birds as designated by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, taking other non-game birds, and possession of wildlife unlawfully taken.
Wildlife officials say it’s likely the biggest single instance of raptor poaching in California history.
Most were red tail hawks but at least one was an owl. A migratory ferruginous hawk was also among the dead, officials reported.
Authorities uncovered the dead birds after someone reported witnessing a man kill a hawk near Standish.
A Fish and Wildlife officer conducted surveillance then visited the property and found nine dead raptors, according to authorities.
The finding was enough to support a search warrant that led officers to the remaining dead birds and animals on March 11.
Many of the dead birds were found near roosting trees or manmade objects such as telephone poles, authorities stated.
The property is located near Honey Lake and the Honey Lake Wildlife Area, which is about 80 miles north of Reno.
“Poaching crimes of this egregious nature against raptors is unprecedented in California,” David Bess, California Department of Fish and Wildlife deputy director and chief of the law enforcement division, said in a written statement. “The local raptor population may take years to recover from these killings.”
Parker did not return a call for comment. He faces maximum state penalties of up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for each illegally killed raptor, a $10,000 fine for an illegally killed mountain lion and possible federal penalties, according to Fish and Wildlife officials.
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