Friday, February 27, 2015

From the Virginia Conservation Police Notebook

Region III, Southwest
CPO Brewer Takes Advantage of an Outreach Opportunity – On February 7, Conservation Police Officer Mark Brewer was checking trout fishermen on Goose Creek in Floyd County and took advantage of an outreach opportunity.  He encountered two juveniles, one of whom had caught a brook trout and thought it might qualify as a trophy fish.  He measured the fish for them and determined that it would indeed qualify, based on its length.  He explained the program to the young men, as well as the specifics for brook trout.  Officer Brewer gave the young man a trophy fish award application and helped him fill it out.  He also certified the length of the fish for the young man and explained to him the next steps he needed to take to receive his award.
Investigation Involving Poisoned Eagles Concluded – On February 11, Senior Conservation Police Officer Troy Phillips and USFWS Agent Mary French concluded a nine month investigation involving poisoned bald eagles in Pulaski County.  Four eagles had been found and testing showed they had ingested the drug pentobarbital, which is a drug used by veterinary doctors to euthanize sick animals.  The eagles had fed off of animal carcasses taken to the local county landfill and not buried properly.  Officer Phillips and Agent French visited vet offices in Pulaski County, interviewed the doctors and found the source of the poisoning.  One vet was using his maintenance man to transport frozen animal remains to the county landfill and declaring to the officials working at the weight station that he had dead animals.  The officials at the dump did not immediately bury the animals per their policy which allowed the eagles to find and feed on the drugged animal remains.  Agent French contacted all parties involved and explained the proper procedure for disposing of the animal carcasses.

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