New Plymouth, Idaho – A rural Idaho man was sentenced in 2011 after deliberately poisoning wildlife and domestic animals with a restricted-use pesticide. Martin L. Jamison, 68, pled guilty to a federal charge stemming from his actions in early 2010, which resulted in the death of one dog and the severe illness of others, as well as the death of a protected turkey vulture.
The investigation began in April 2010, following complaints from multiple neighbors near Jamison’s property. Neighbors reported their dogs becoming violently ill after ingesting what appeared to be meat laced with a dangerous substance. One dog, belonging to a neighboring family, ultimately succumbed to the poisoning and had to be euthanized. Veterinary analysis revealed the presence of carbofuran, a highly toxic pesticide, in the dog’s vomit.
Evidence collected by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) painted a disturbing picture. Jamison had hired someone to trap gophers on his land. When coyotes began taking the traps and carcasses, Jamison intentionally placed bags of meat, saturated with carbofuran, around the gopher holes, seemingly attempting to poison the coyotes. He explicitly warned the trapper and a neighbor about the potency of the meat and advised them to keep pets away. A dead turkey vulture was discovered on Jamison’s property near a bag of the same poisoned meat.
Laboratory testing conducted by the IDFG Wildlife Health Laboratory confirmed the presence of high levels of carbofuran in both the dog vomit and the meat samples. Carbofuran is a restricted-use pesticide, meaning its application is heavily regulated due to its extreme toxicity. It is not approved for predator control in the United States, and its use in this manner constitutes a serious violation of federal law.
Federal prosecutors charged Jamison 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. The prosecution argued that Jamison knowingly and intentionally used carbofuran for an unapproved purpose – predator control – posing a significant risk to wildlife, domestic animals, and potentially humans.
On August 10, 2011, Jamison was sentenced to three months of probation and ordered to pay a $1,500 federal fine. He was also required to provide $700 in restitution to the owners of the dogs poisoned by his actions. The case highlights the dangers of improper pesticide use and the importance of adhering to federal regulations designed to protect the environment and public health. The incident serves as a stark reminder that intentionally poisoning animals is a serious crime with severe consequences.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Martin L. Jamison
- Location: New Plymouth, Idaho
- Year: 2011
- Crime: Illegal use of pesticide (carbofuran) for predator control
- Statute Violated: 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(G) – FIFRA
- Victims: One dog died, multiple dogs sickened, one turkey vulture died.
- Penalty: 3 months probation, $1,500 fine, $700 restitution
- Evidence: Carbofuran found in dog vomit and poisoned meat samples.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow cases involving environmental crimes and animal cruelty.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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