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NY Farmer Fined for Poisoning Eagles, Other Birds
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3/11/2010
A western New York farmer has been fined $3,000 for killing two bald eagles, 35 geese and two crows by illegally spreading a restricted insecticide on his cornfield.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) A western New York farmer has been fined $3,000 for killing two bald eagles, 35 geese and two crows by illegally spreading a restricted insecticide on his cornfield.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation investigated after two eagles were found dead near the Genesee River last fall. The agency's Wildlife Pathology Unit in Albany found the birds were poisoned by Furadan, an agricultural pesticide that's highly toxic to waterfowl.
Investigators said Tuesday that the eagles most likely ate other birds killed by the pesticide.
The poisoning was traced to the farm of Richard Sekoll of Willing in Allegany County, where the other dead birds were found. Sekoll pleaded guilty to violating state pesticide and fish and wildlife laws.
