Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Ville Platte man on July 26 for ashooting an endangered whooping crane in Evangeline Parish.
Agents cited Gilvin P. Aucoin, 52, for violating the Endangered Species Act after he admitted to shooting a whooping crane, according to a Wildlife and Fisheries news release.
Agents were notified about a shot whooping crane that was found near a crawfish pond in the northeast corner of Evangeline Parish. Agents responded to the area and questioned Aucoin, who was working on the land at the time the crane was shot.
During questioning he admitted to shooting the crane with a .22-caliber rifle on July 25 while working on the property, the news release stated. Agents seized the .22-caliber rifle.
Violating the Endangered Species Act brings up to a $50,000 fine and a year in jail.
Wildlife and Fisheries has released 125 whooping cranes since 2011 and are currently tracking 65 whooping cranes. The female crane in this case was released in 2011.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit wlf.la.gov. To receive email alerts, signup at wlf.la.gov/signup.