Daryl Fischer, Wildlife Poisoning, Alabama 2015

In a shocking case of wildlife cruelty, two Florida men have been sentenced for poisoning wildlife and hunting dogs in Bullock County, Alabama. Daryl Fischer of Seminole, Florida, and Russell Taylor of Loxahatchee, Florida, were handed terms of probation and fines for their role in the deadly incident.

According to the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, George L. Beck, Jr., the two men were members of a hunting club leasing Bucksnort Plantation near Fitzpatrick, Alabama. On January 31, 2014, they sprinkled granules of Temik, a toxic pesticide, on portions of a deer carcass and spread it around the property in an attempt to kill coyotes.

Temik is not approved for use as a poison for animals, and its misuse resulted in the loss of multiple animal lives, including three fox-hunting dogs, two red-tailed hawks, and a black vulture. The poisoning also had significant environmental implications, with the toxic pesticide posing a risk to people, animals, and the environment.

Fischer and Taylor have been prohibited from hunting all game animals for one year, including deer and migratory birds. They have also been ordered to pay restitution and fines in the amount of $14,249.79. Additionally, they will be responsible for publishing a public notice in the Union Springs Herald regarding the misuse of toxic pesticides.

“Using pesticides for purposes other than their registered use is illegal and puts people, animals and the environment at risk of exposure,” said Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal enforcement program in Alabama. “Pesticide labels and usage instructions must be followed carefully to ensure safe application. Today’s sentence sends a strong signal that individuals who knowingly misuse these products and kill protected wildlife will be prosecuted.”

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the United States Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gray M. Borden.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of following the law and respecting the natural world. The sentence handed down to Fischer and Taylor is a just consequence for their actions, and it sends a clear message that wildlife cruelty will not be tolerated.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdal/pr/florida-men-sentenced-poisoning-wildlife-and-hunting-dogs-bullock-county