| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents have arrested or are seeking to
arrest 35 people in New Mexico, Arizona and
Colorado responsible for killing and selling bald
and golden eagles. "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," said a USFWS bulletin delivered to Inside
Outdoors via e-mail.
"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.
According to
the service, their agents found 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." Feathers were being sold
to make popular native American items like
Kachina dolls and dance bustles. The items were
sold to trading posts, collectors, tourists and
individuals participating in pow-wows. At least
25 species were being traded--from eagles and
owls to flickers, scissor-tailed flycatchers and
anhingas. All are protected under the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act.
A tremendous
increase in prices brought on by the demand for
feathers is said to be the main reason poachers
get into the business. The USFWS says the price
of an intact golden eagle fan quadrupled from
$100 to $400 in 1988. Today, a single golden
eagle feather sells for as much as $100. An
anhinga feather peyote fan goes for $300. The
presence of anhinga items shows the ring was not
confined to only the Southwest. Anhingas live
along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Louisiana.
Producing tourist
items has resulted in "alarmingly high
numbers of birds being killed for profit"
according to the USFWS. "For example, to
make an eagle fan it takes an entire tail from
one eagle. To make a single scissor-tailed
flycatcher fan, it can take 25 birds."
The case is
now in the hands of John J. Kelly, U.S. Attorney
for New Mexico in Albuquerque. The evidence in
the form of bird carcasses, feathers and tourist
items are at the National Eagle Repository near
Denver. The USFWS receives 2,000 requests a year
for eagle items from native Americans for
recognized religious, cultural and ceremonial
purposes.
The Bald Eagle
Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and
the Endangered Species Act all protect both bald
and golden eagles. Under these laws, it is
illegal to take, possess, transport, sell or
purchase any eagles or eagle parts without a
permit. Maximum penalties under each law could
total eight years in prison and $600,000 in
fines. 12/22/96.
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