Latest news with #huntingban
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Officials announce swifter-than-expected ban on traditional hunting practice: 'This is an important step for the future'
Officials announce swifter-than-expected ban on traditional hunting practice: 'This is an important step for the future' In England, Scotland, and Wales, lead ammunition is to be banned after a three-year phase-out period, starting in 2026, as announced by environmental minister Emma Hardy. According to the Guardian, the environmental concerns associated with lead have led to the ban. It was initially going to occur over a five-year phase-out but has been shrunk to just three years, meaning results will be visible even quicker. "Ammunition using lead has long been identified as a significant pollutant and a particular risk to waterbirds," the Guardian reported. "The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) estimates that about 100,000 waterbirds in the U.K. die every year from lead poisoning." The damage associated with lead doesn't stop at the harm it causes waterbirds. A recent study spotlighted the effects of lead on humans, with a particular focus on its negative impact on children's cognition. These parts of the U.K. are not the only places with legislation tackling lead; in October 2024, the U.S. announced that cities have 10 years to replace their lead pipes. On the decision to make hunting less risky to untargeted animals by stopping lead ammunition from being used, Tim Bonner — CEO of farming-centered nonprofit Countryside Alliance — told the Guardian: "This is an important step for the future of shooting, which will benefit the countryside and rural economy." While backlash to the reduced phase-out schedule has included fears about replacing lead bullets with alternatives, the Guardian quoted Minister Hardy as saying: "Non-lead alternatives are readily available, and we'll continue to work closely with the shooting sector throughout this transition." The future is looking bright for both waterbirds and humans, as keeping this toxic metal out of our environment, including animals' bodies and waterways, can help prevent the harm created by lead and lead poisoning. To reduce possible ingestion of lead in your own life, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends "flushing" your system, or letting the faucet run for 15-20 seconds before using the water. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Deer poachers ordered to pay nearly $120,000, issued worldwide hunting bans
(WJW)- Five men from Mississippi have been ordered to pay nearly $120,000 in restitution and have also received a temporary worldwide hunting ban after being accused of poaching white-tailed deer. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the crime spree took place over four years in southern Illinois. The men are accused of using spotlights to scout deer, then shooting to kill, and later returning to collect the carcass. Rare mosquito-borne virus confirmed in Northeast Ohio 'This was not an isolated incident of unlawful hunting; rather, it was a calculated, multi-year operation that exploited Illinois's prized wildlife resources for personal gain,' said Assistant Director Douglas Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement in a press release. 'Targeting trophy deer under the cover of night, across multiple counties, and transporting them across state lines reflects a deliberate disregard for wildlife laws and the ecological balance we work tirelessly to protect.' Petition aims to eliminate Ohio property taxes According to a press release, all five defendants received a world-wide hunting ban for the length of their probations. Further sentencing details are below: Lee J. Johnson, 54, of Saucier, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful transport of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act and was sentenced to probation for five years, including 12 months of home detention and location monitoring. Johnson was also ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution and a $10,000 fine. Steven J. Pique, 56, of Biloxi, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, was sentenced to probation for five years and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. Gerald B. Moran, 40, of Saucier, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful transport of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act, was sentenced to probation for five years and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution, as well as a $2,500 fine. Joshua A. Marshall, 30, of Saucier, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful transport of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act, was sentenced to probation for three years and ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution, as well as a $2,500 fine. John M. Pritchard, 57, of Biloxi, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful transport of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act, was sentenced to probation for five years and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution, as well as a $5,000 fine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
06-06-2025
- CBC
Alberta conservationists, sheep outfitter call for stiffer poaching penalties after 4 men fined $26K
Four men who illegally killed bighorn sheep in western Alberta were fined $26,000 combined and each received one-year hunting bans — penalties some say are not steep enough. According to a Facebook post from Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, a group of hunters illegally killed at least four bighorn sheep, including a sublegal ram, in September in the former Gregg and Cardinal River mine sites near Cadomin, Alta., about 320 kilometres southwest of Edmonton. Semi-retired bighorn sheep outfitter Lorne Hindbo told CBC News the area is known for being a bighorn sheep habitat, but is well-policed and has been closed to hunting for decades. "The nerve… it's almost like driving over into Jasper and doing it," he said. An Alberta Fish and Wildlife spokesperson told CBC News that its officers regularly plan and conduct proactive enforcement patrols to address known issues, and ensure compliance with the province's resource legislation that supports conserving and protecting natural resources. On social media, the government said one such patrol in the remote area eventually led to convictions against the four central Alberta men. Investigators analyzed DNA samples and bullets, linking the kills to the individuals. Some of the charges the men faced included hunting without a licence, wastage of wildlife and trespassing. They pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of wildlife in Hinton Provincial Court last month. They are each suspended from hunting for one year, and have to complete the first-time hunter education course before applying for recreational hunting licenses, the Alberta Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said. Two of the men were fined $10,000, another was fined $4,000 and the fourth was fined $2,000. All "wildlife items" seized throughout the investigation were given to the Crown, they said. But fines aren't high enough to deter poaching, said John E. Marriott, a professional wildlife photographer in Canmore, Alta., and co-founder of the Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. Sheep hunts can cost tens of thousands of dollars, he said. A permit granting hunters permission to hunt year-round for a single bighorn sheep recently netted the Alberta government $400,000 US at an auction. Marriott said $26,000 is a pittance and the one-year hunting bans are even more frustrating. "We should be looking at five-, 10-, 20-year bans, as well as firearm bans," he said. Ruiping Luo, a conservation specialist with the Alberta Wilderness Association, also said the fines don't go far enough. "We should consider that we spend millions on conservation each year, just to try to maintain these landscapes and to maintain the wildlife in them," Luo said. "At the very least, it should be set perhaps at a couple hundred thousand dollars for the licenses, but probably more than that." She said poaching makes it hard for the province to sustainably manage wildlife.
