Please note that the "Native America Calling" radio program is doing a
feature on this subject on this coming Tuesday. To access a copy of the
article describing that program via the World Wide Web, use the URL
"http://bioc09.uthscsa.edu/natnet/archive/nl/9612/0035.html" --Gary ]
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From: Mitch Snow <mitch_snow@mail.fws.gov>
To: fws-news@dataadmin.irm.r9.fws.gov
Subject: EAGLES ARE BEING KILLED FOR PROFIT
Date: Thur., 21 Nov 1996 9:40:00 -0600 (MDT)
Fish and Wildlife Service
November 21, 1996 Anne-Berry Wade 505-248-6911
703-358-1949
Lucinda Schroeder 505-883-7814
EAGLES ARE BEING KILLED FOR PROFIT
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agents Uncover Illegal Market
Special agents from the Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service today carried out Federal search and arrest warrants in New
Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado, ending a 2-year undercover investigation
into the killing and selling of bald and golden eagles, and other
migratory birds. In all, approximately 35 individuals and businesses are
expected to be charged with selling protected migratory bird parts in a
highly profitable illegal market.
Posing as traders of Indian artifacts, undercover agents were able to
infiltrate a commercial trapping ring. They were told that in one pueblo
during last year's winter migration, more than 60 eagles were intentionally
killed either by being shot or caught in leg-hold traps baited with fresh
meat. The agents located trap lines and were sold dead eagles with trap
marks on their legs and feet. The Service decided to end this investigation,
dubbed "Operation 4-Corners Feather Sales," prematurely to prevent more
eagles from being killed. Some of those eagles were offered for sale from
$850-$l,000 each.
"As the agency responsible for protecting this Nation's wildlife, we must
put an end to the commercial killing of eagles and other migratory birds.
We decided to move now to stop this slaughter to protect vulnerable eagle
populations in the Southwest. By taking this action, we protect birds
that are sacred to many Native American cultures", said John Rogers,
acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Undercover agents discovered an illegal market for migratory bird parts in
which whole eagle skins, wings, tails, and wing bones; whole hawks, wings,
and tails; and owl wings were sold throughout New Mexico, Arizona, and
parts of Colorado and Utah. The investigation revealed that the illegal
feathers were being sold to make popular Native American-style items such
as fans, Kachina dolls, and bustles. Many of these items were sold to
trading posts, collectors, tourists, and individuals participating in
pow-wows. Items being offered for sale were made with feathers from at
least 25 different species, including eagles, hawks, kestrels, magpies,
flickers, scissor-tailed flycatchers, and anhingas. These birds are all
protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Most are native to the
Southwest (the anhinga is a waterbird found in Florida and Louisiana).
Eagles are also protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
and the bald eagle is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered
Species Act. Killing for profit in New Mexico makes the eagle population
vulnerable as these birds migrate south.
Illegal commerce in eagle feathers and migratory bird feathers is enormously
profitable. In recent years, the increased popularity and demand for
feathers has resulted in soaring prices. Compared to a similar case from
1988, the price of an intact golden eagle tail, which has 12 feathers, has
quadrupled from approximately $l00 to $400. During this investigation,
special agents learned that in today's market, a single golden eagle
feather could sell for about $100; a red-tailed hawk peyote fan, $150; and
an anhinga feather fan, $300.
The popularity of Native American items made with migratory bird feathers
has resulted in alarmingly high numbers of birds being killed for profit.
For example, to make an eagle fan it takes the entire tail from one eagle.
To make a single scissor-tailed flycatcher fan, it can take 25 birds.
This case is being prosecuted by the Department of Justice, United States
Attorney's Offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Phoenix, Arizona. John
J. Kelly, the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico,
congratulated the agents of the Fish and Wildlife Service on their superb
investigative work. "The United States government has a strong interest
in the preservation of these magnificent animals," Kelly said. "This kind
of large-scale commercial trapping must end before the resource is
depleted entirely."
The evidence in this case will be forwarded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's National Eagle Repository near Denver, Colorado. Eagles are
available to Native Americans by permit through the Repository. The
Service receives nearly 2,000 requests per year to distribute eagle
carcasses, parts, and feathers to Native Americans for recognized
religious, cultural, and ceremonial purposes.
Congress has enacted three separate Federal laws that protect the eagle:
the Bald Eagle Protection Act, amended to include the golden eagle in
1962; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, amended to protect eagles in 1972;
and the Endangered Species Act. These statutes make it illegal for anyone
to take, possess, transport, sell, or purchase any eagles or eagle parts,
including feathers, unless permitted to do so. The maximum penalty under
the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is one year imprisonment and a
$100,000 fine, and under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 2 years imprisonment
and a $250,000 fine. Additional charges will be sought under the Lacey Act
which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
-FWS-
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--- Scott Robert LaddScottRobertLadd@juno.com 957 Empire Street voice: +1 970 387 0271 P.O. Box 617 fax: +1 970 387 0277 Silverton, CO 81433 USA