http://www.theblaze.com/stories/mom-slapped-with-fine-after-daughter-saves-baby-bird/
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations.
Today?s shining example of ?No Good Deed Goes Unpunished? comes from Fredericksburg, VA, where a young girl prevented the family cat from pouncing on a lost baby woodpecker and her mom ended up with a $535 ticket (and faces the possibility of jail time) for violating the Federal Migratory Bird Act.
Despite the fact that 11-year-old Skylar Capo actually saved the tiny lost woodpecker from a violent death, and then successfully released the bird back into the wild, a Virginia State Trooper was still dispatched to the Capo home where Skylar?s mom was slapped with the $535 ticket.
EDIT!
Sorry, seems I jumped at a silly and stupid story too fast. Seems the authority involved changed their minds and took back the fine in question. For good reason or because it was given them too much bad press we may never know.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/update-535-fine-rescinded-in-baby-bird-rescue/
Update: $535 Fine Rescinded In Baby Bird Rescue
?The citation is null and void,? U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Bill Butcher told msnbc.com on Tuesday. ?We?ve rescinded it.?
?They [the agent and state trooper] had gone to inquire about the health of the woodpecker,? Butcher said. ?At that point, they determined that no further action was necessary.?
Despite this, Butcher said, the citation was processed unintentionally. He added that the agency has apologized to Capo and will send her a formal letter explaining the clerical error.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations.
Today?s shining example of ?No Good Deed Goes Unpunished? comes from Fredericksburg, VA, where a young girl prevented the family cat from pouncing on a lost baby woodpecker and her mom ended up with a $535 ticket (and faces the possibility of jail time) for violating the Federal Migratory Bird Act.
Despite the fact that 11-year-old Skylar Capo actually saved the tiny lost woodpecker from a violent death, and then successfully released the bird back into the wild, a Virginia State Trooper was still dispatched to the Capo home where Skylar?s mom was slapped with the $535 ticket.
EDIT!
Sorry, seems I jumped at a silly and stupid story too fast. Seems the authority involved changed their minds and took back the fine in question. For good reason or because it was given them too much bad press we may never know.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/update-535-fine-rescinded-in-baby-bird-rescue/
Update: $535 Fine Rescinded In Baby Bird Rescue
?The citation is null and void,? U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Bill Butcher told msnbc.com on Tuesday. ?We?ve rescinded it.?
?They [the agent and state trooper] had gone to inquire about the health of the woodpecker,? Butcher said. ?At that point, they determined that no further action was necessary.?
Despite this, Butcher said, the citation was processed unintentionally. He added that the agency has apologized to Capo and will send her a formal letter explaining the clerical error.
.