New Plymouth, ID – Martin L. Jamison, a resident of New Plymouth, Idaho, was sentenced in August 2011 after pleading guilty to illegally poisoning wildlife, resulting in the death of one dog and sickening others. The case, investigated by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a deliberate attempt to control coyote populations using a highly toxic pesticide in a manner explicitly prohibited by federal law.
The investigation began in April 2010 following reports of multiple sickened dogs in the vicinity of Jamison’s property. One dog ultimately succumbed to the poisoning, while two others required veterinary treatment to survive. A neighbor’s turkey vulture was also found dead on Jamison’s land near a bag of contaminated meat.
According to court documents, Jamison hired an individual to trap gophers on his property in February/March 2010. When coyotes began taking the traps and the dead gophers, Jamison instructed the trapper not to handle the carcasses, stating they were “potent.” He then began placing bags of meat laced with the pesticide carbofuran around the gopher holes, again warning the trapper not to touch it. Notably, Jamison also warned a neighbor to restrain their dog for several days, explicitly stating his intention to poison coyotes.
The IDFG’s Wildlife Health Laboratory confirmed the presence of high levels of carbofuran in samples of vomit collected from the poisoned dogs. Further analysis revealed that the meat found near the dead vulture, and the meat causing the dog’s illness, had been deliberately contaminated with the substance. Carbofuran is a restricted-use pesticide, meaning its use is heavily regulated, and is *not* approved for predator control in the United States.
Legal Ramifications
Jamison was charged with one count of violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) – specifically 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(G), which prohibits the use of any registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. His actions constituted an illegal application of a dangerous chemical, endangering both domestic animals and wildlife. He pled guilty to the charge on July 26, 2011.
Sentencing and Restitution
On August 10, 2011, Jamison received a sentence of three months probation, a $1,500 federal fine, and was ordered to pay $700 in restitution to the owners of the dogs that were poisoned. The case highlights the severe consequences of misusing pesticides and the EPA’s commitment to enforcing regulations designed to protect public health and the environment.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Martin L. Jamison
- Location: New Plymouth, Idaho
- Year: 2011
- Crime: Illegal poisoning of animals with carbofuran.
- Statute Violated: 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(G) (FIFRA)
- Penalty: 3 months probation, $1,500 fine, $700 restitution
- Victims: One dog died, two dogs sickened, one turkey vulture died
- Carbofuran is a restricted-use pesticide not approved for predator control.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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