Wildlife Archives

Man pleads guilty to wildlife trafficking, killing over 100 eagles

September 5, 2024

A man pleaded guilty to wildlife trafficking as court documents show that at least 118 eagles were killed as part of this long-running operation. Prosecutors said the wildlife trafficking ring in the Western U.S. reveals bird victims could reach into the thousands. The eagles’ parts were sold on the black market for profits.

The case centers on a man named Travis John Branson. Prosecutors said the man from Washington made between $180,000 and $360,000 over 13 years illegally selling bald and golden eagle parts.

Prosecutors painted a grim picture of Branson’s activities, highlighting the systematic nature of the killings.

“It was not uncommon for Branson to take upwards of nine eagles at a time,” they said.

Branson pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and two counts of trafficking federally protected bald and golden eagles. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Branson to “significant imprisonment” and restitution totaling $777,250, including $5,000 for every dead eagle and $1,750 for each of 107 hawks that investigators said he and his co-conspirators killed.

The prosecution also alleges that as many as 3,600 birds were killed by co-defendant, Simon Paul, who remains at large.

U.S. law prohibits anyone without a permit from killing, wounding or disturbing eagles, or taking their nests or eggs.

Native American tribes often seek eagle wings, tails, feathers and other eagle parts to use them in ceremonies. However, a permit system is in place to ensure the parts are collected ethically.

Millions of dead fish hurt tourism in central Greece as investigation ensues

August 29, 2024

The scenic countryside of Greece is dealing with an enormous and stinky problem that’s driving away tourists and hurting business. Millions of dead fish, as far as the eye can see, are washing up near the town of Volos.

Seafront businesses dependent on tourism say that revenues on Thursday, Aug. 29, had dropped 80% since the mass die-off and they say that government inaction is to blame.

Authorities said that they have dredged more than 100 tons of fish carcasses from the water near the Port of Volos. Scientists say that the mass deaths are likely the result of a combination of climate change and improper water management.

The fish are thought to have been forced downstream after widespread flooding in the region. Experts say that extreme heat this summer caused water to evaporate. Fish then began to die due to a lack of oxygen and toxins seeping into the water from agricultural lands.

However, the fish swam into the waters months ago and critics argue that the local government should have gotten them out before they died. Now, commercial fishing vessels and excavators have been called in to scoop up the dead fish.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Volos accused the regional authority of moving too slowly in the cleanup process and said he previously warned of the problems created by the flooding of farmland.

Meanwhile, the city’s chamber of commerce is suing over damages to local business. Greece’s Supreme Court prosecutor, Georgia Adeilini, also announced an investigation on Thursday to determine how much culpability the regional authority has in the environmental catastrophe.

Wind turbines and bird deaths: contextualizing Trump’s claims

August 20, 2024

Former President Donald Trump recently claimed that wind turbines are responsible for a significant number of bird deaths, describing the areas beneath them as “bird cemeteries” with “thousands of birds dead” beneath them. While his assertion highlights a real issue, the broader context reveals a more nuanced picture.

Wind turbines do indeed pose a threat to birds. Research conducted by specialists at the American Bird Conservancy estimates that wind turbines are responsible for nearly 1.2 million bird deaths annually in the United States. Some of the affected species include vulnerable avian populations such as golden eagles, bald eagles, burrowing owls and peregrine falcons.

However, while the number of bird deaths caused by wind turbines is concerning, it is relatively small compared to other causes of avian mortality. Cars, pesticides, buildings and the fossil fuel industry collectively contribute to hundreds of millions of bird deaths each year. Even household cats are estimated to kill as many as one billion birds annually in the U.S. alone.

Overall, wind turbine-related bird deaths represent less than 1% of the total U.S. bird population each year. Although some of Trump’s claim is factually accurate, the impact of wind turbines on bird mortality is statistically minor when compared to other human-related threats.

Vineyard Wind construction resumes; locals blame project for whale deaths

August 15, 2024

Developers of the Vineyard Wind project, an offshore wind farm near Nantucket, received authorization to resume installing turbine towers after a temporary suspension caused by a turbine malfunction. This latest development comes as locals continue to call the incident that scattered debris onto their beaches for weeks an “environmental disaster.” Some also questioned wether the project is responsible for several whale deaths around the island.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement issued the order allowing the project to continue its construction efforts after a nearly months-long pause initiated after the initial turbine breakage occurred. Vineyard Wind still cannot install new turbine blades or generate electricity from the project, but the company does now have the go-ahead to erect more turbine towers in the Atlantic Ocean. This is a process some Nantucket residents believe is harming whales around the island.

“Why is it that all these offshore wind companies have been issued take permits for whales that are on the endangered species list,” one local questioned at a recent town meeting. “Nobody can come up with a definitive answer on why these whales have died.”

“We’ve witnessed a lot of marine mammal death over the past few years,” another resident stated. “I’m concerned if any takes have been recorded yet from this operation at Vineyard Wind.”

On Aug. 8, officials attributed the cause of death for a whale that washed up on Nantucket in April to a vessel strike. However, some on the island were not satisfied with that explanation

“Never has there been this many ship strikes of whales,” one local charter boat operator said. “This has got the fox watching the chicken coop all over it. Most of it is funded by the windmill people.”

“The majority of these agencies have all accepted money from big wind,” another Nantucketer said. “Is that a conflict of interest or not? Because money talks and follow the science, follow the money.”

As construction at the offshore wind farm resumes, Vineyard Wind will focus on removing the damaged blade from the turbine and recovering additional debris from the seafloor.

No, you can’t dump a dead bear in Central Park, NYC lists legal options

August 6, 2024

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, it was revealed that Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not face charges for dumping a dead bear in Central Park a decade ago. Dumping roadkill in the park was illegal, but the statute of limitations for the alleged crime expired years ago.

However, the admission has garnered a lot of reaction on social media. The New York City Sanitation Department also chimed in, advising people on ways to properly dispose of dead animals. RFK Jr.’s way is not one of the recommended procedures.

Instead, the city listed other solutions for disposing of animal carcasses, like calling 311 if a person finds a dead animal on public property. If the animal is on a person’s property, the city said that they should throw out the dead animal with their garbage, just make sure that it is labeled. The New York City Department of Sanitation posted some more humorous label options as well. However, if the animal had rabies or bit someone, the city said that a person is required to report that.

Now, if Kennedy admitted to his so-called prank at the time of disposing of the bear, he reportedly could have faced several charges including illegal possession of a bear without a tag or permit and illegal disposal of a bear. Both violations carry fines of around $250 for first time offenses.

Kennedy said that he did not have time to dispose of the bear carcass because he was running short on time to catch his plane at the airport. However, disposing of the bear in Central Park was not his only option. New York City reportedly has Animal Care Centers of NYC drop-off locations. The reported cost to cremate an animal is $50, far less than the $250 fine that Kennedy could have faced.

Reality TV contestants lose chance at $500K prize after killing protected bird

July 25, 2024

A pair of contestants on the U.S. reality show “Race to Survive” have been disqualified, losing out on the potential $500,000 prize, after one of them killed a protected bird in New Zealand. The incident occurred during the latest season of the show, which challenges teams to complete a 150-mile journey across harsh wilderness terrain while sourcing their own food and water.

This season was set in New Zealand, home to the threatened weka bird, a species protected by law and listed as “threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Under New Zealand legislation, killing a weka can result in a prison sentence of up to two years. However, “Race to Survive” contestant Spencer “Corry” Jones said the intense hunger experienced during the grueling competition caused him to make the decision to eat one of these birds.

“There’s creatures running around camp that we’re not allowed to eat. You get into that mindset of starvation mode and this slowing down of your cognition,” Jones said on the show. “It’s this mental shift where the thoughts kind of drift a little more and there’s this very deep need to eat.”

The incident led to the elimination of Jones and his partner from the competition. New Zealand wildlife officials decided to issue a warning instead of pressing charges, citing the “unique” circumstances of the situation. In a confessional on the show, Jones expressed remorse for his actions, saying he had “disrespected New Zealand” and made a “foolish mistake,” but that “survival in the bush in New Zealand is not easy.”

The show’s production team said in a statement that the incident was reported to authorities as soon as the team became aware of it. It also emphasized that all contestants had been briefed and continually reminded throughout shooting about the presence of protected species and plants in the area that could not be eaten.

Cocaine discovered in sharks off of coast of Brazil, study hopes to explain why

July 23, 2024

Marine biologists announced on Tuesday, July 23, that sharks off of the coast of Brazil have tested positive for high levels of cocaine. The scientists tested 13 Brazilian sharp nose sharks caught on the shores near Rio de Janeiro and found the fish had high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers.

Researchers said they believe the cocaine entered the sharks’ bodies after making its way into the ocean through illegal labs that manufactured cocaine and drug users’ biological waste. Scientists also said that packs of cocaine dumped or lost by drug trafficker into the sea could be a source, though it’s a less likely cause.

Brazil is one of the world’s largest suppliers of cocaine and has poor sewage infrastructure, according to the researchers. Scientists said that is a major reason they are seeing increased levels of cocaine in the sea.

The higher concentrations of cocaine sharks likely mean they’re consuming sea creatures with the drug already in them, according to the study. Researchers now believe that cocaine is getting into the human food supply. Brazilian sharp nose sharks are sold in Brazil at markets, meaning people may already being consuming the cocaine-riddled fish.

The impact on marine life is still being researched, but scientists say all of the female sharks involved in the study were pregnant. It’s unclear what impact the presence of cocaine may have on their offspring.

As far as the effects of cocaine on shark behavior, studies have shown it to have side effects similar to those humans’ experience.

The team involved in the study said it hopes to expand its research to other shark species. The reason the Brazilian sharp nose shark was chosen is because of its small size and also due to the fact that it lives in a small area where it is exposed to large amounts of contaminant discharges, according to scientists.

Tons of decomposing fish in Brazil, prosecutors say 1 company is to blame

July 18, 2024

Tons of fish have died along one of the main rivers in São Paulo, Brazil, after environmental officials and prosecutors said on Wednesday, July 17, that illegal dumping of industrial wastewater into the Piracicaba River caused the massive die-off. Preliminary findings reveal that anywhere between 10 to 20 tons of fish died in the river.

Prosecutors and environmental authorities said that the industrial wastewater dumped from the plant reached a stream flowing into the river. One environmental official said that he expects “it will take years for the environment to recover” because of the number of fish killed and the variety of species impacted. The official said that the biodiversity of the area will be greatly impacted as a result of the environmental disaster.

The Piracicaba River crosses a protected tropical wetland that is famous for its abundance of wildlife and natural scenery.

Prosecutors requested a full report into water conditions and are awaiting more information before they take any additional steps to determine criminal or civil liability in the investigation.

Meanwhile, police involved in the investigation said that they are working to determine whether an environmental crime was committed. If they determine a crime was committed, the company would reportedly face a significant fine.

Estiva, the company in charge of the sugar and ethanol plant, has not yet responded to the investigation.

About 200 crocodiles spotted in populated areas of Mexico after storms

July 12, 2024

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl and the previous Tropical Storm Alberto, which led to heavy rains, around 200 crocodiles have entered populated areas of the northern Mexico state of Tamaulipas near Texas, according to authorities. State officials said that elevated water levels have forced the reptiles from their original habitats into nearby cities.

Authorities warn that danger may still persist as water levels recede, which could lead to more sightings of crocodiles among residents.

Meanwhile, wildlife officials said that they have already captured and relocated 165 crocodiles, in addition to the 40 crocodiles caught and relocated in June.

https://twitter.com/SedumaTam/status/1810867163181289785

The inundation of crocodiles into urban areas gained widespread attention on social media as users posted videos of the reptiles lurking in urban areas. This sparked safety concerns among residents nearby.

Mexican officials noted that while crocodile attacks are rare, they are not unheard of.

Other storms have previously pushed dangerous reptiles into populated areas. In 2022, Hurricane Ian’s aftermath prompted warning in Florida after residents reported sightings of alligators and snakes in neighborhoods.

In 2021, a massive alligator reportedly killed a Louisiana man in Hurricane Ida floodwaters. Authorities eventually captured and killed the alligator, and later findings revealed human remains in the reptile’s stomach.

World’s largest urban wildlife crossing under construction in CA

July 9, 2024

Southern California’s 10-lane Highway 101, which sees approximately 400,000 vehicles daily, will soon be home to the largest urban wildlife crossing globally. Currently, portions of Highway 101 cut through Los Angeles, isolating wildlife from their natural habitat and impacting species survival.

Over the past two decades, at least 26 mountain lions have lost their lives attempting to cross the highway. To address this issue, California is constructing a wildlife walking corridor to allow animals to safely traverse this section of the highway.

Wildlife advocates emphasize that this crossing will not only prevent wildlife fatalities but also facilitate mountain lion breeding and their access to food.

“There are very few people who don’t get upset when they see a dead animal on the side of the road,” Beth Pratt, the regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation, told CBS News. “So I think this is something that within a time when we agree on very little, we pretty much agree on wildlife crossings.”

These crossings are not unique to the United States. Across 43 states, there are more than 1,500 wildlife crossings. For instance, the wildlife bridge on Snoqualmie Pass near Seattle, Washington, allows coyotes, elk, deer, and other animals to safely move from one side of Interstate-90 to the other.

Internationally, Australia has also implemented similar solutions. On Christmas Island National Park, a bridge assists millions of red crabs during their migration to the ocean, preventing collisions with passing cars.

California’s upcoming Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will blend seamlessly into the natural habitat on both sides of Highway 101, providing animals with easier access to food, shelter and mates.

Upon completion in early 2026, it will claim the title of the world’s largest wildlife crossing.