A Wallaceburg man who purposefully drove his boat into a family of swans on Running Creek has been fined $1,000 and forced to forfeit his boat and motor to the Crown.
Nathan Salisbury, who pleaded guilty to charges under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and Migratory Birds Regulations in the Ontario Court of Justice in Chatham Jan. 20, has also been forced to surrender his migratory bird hunting permit to a conservation officer.
The court heard that on July 11, 2009, Salisbury intentionally drove his boat into a family of swans on Running Creek, killing one of the adult swans. Two days later, one of the cygnets was found dead.
Justice of the Peace Marsha Miskokomon ordered Salisbury to pay $500 for using a boat for the purpose of killing wildlife and another $500 for unlawfully hunting a migratory bird during closed season.
Chatham Kent Police Services, Environment Canada Wildlife Enforcement and the Ministry of Natural Resources were all involved in the investigation.
