Game Warden Field Notes
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports:
A soaring recovery
In October 2018 a Titus County game warden responded to a call of an injured hawk laying in a county road bar ditch. On arrival the warden discovered that the bird was actually a rare juvenile southern bald eagle that was sick and could not stand.
The bird was transported to Last Chance Forever Bird of Prey Conservancy in San Antonio for rehabilitation. The bird was suffering from a severe case of botulism.
After making a complete recovery, the eagle was returned to Monticello County Park in Titus County where it was released back into the wild by conservancy staff in late March.
Oh, Snap!
A Morris County game warden received a text informing him there was a video on SnapChat of an airboat with underage people on it possibly bow fishing and consuming alcohol on March 30.
The warden remembered a trailer parked at a boat ramp on the north end of Lake O’ The Pines that could possibly be a trailer for an airboat. He was able to locate the airboat from the shore and waited until the boat arrived back at the boat ramp.
The boat was found to be occupied by six males all under the age of 21 and alcohol was found in a cooler onboard the vessel. All occupants confessed to bow fishing as well.
Multiple citations and warnings were issued for minor in possession of alcohol, no fishing license and improper lights on the vessel. All cases are pending.
Busted by the ‘Gram
An Operation Game Thief wildlife crimestoppers hotline call about a video of someone shooting a turkey off the roadside came into the game warden’s office on March 29.
The warden contacted the caller who said there was a video on Instagram of a man shooting a turkey out of a truck window. Upon viewing the video, the warden recognized the area near Barksdale. After referencing images of the individual’s truck and license plate, also posted to that Instagram account, the warden was able to gain the suspect’s identification and address in Laredo.
The warden enlisted assistance of a Webb County game warden, who interviewed the subject and his accomplice. The Webb County warden was able to gain confessions from the suspects to shooting the turkey from a public road.
Several citations were issued to both subjects and the cases are pending.
Facebook ads work
Game wardens completed a joint investigation on a local wholesale fish dealer for illegally importing and selling whole unprocessed alligator from Louisiana on April 30.
This investigation was initiated when an unprocessed alligator was advertised for sell on Facebook in Henderson County by an unlicensed retail fish dealer.
The wholesale dealer in Titus County was found to have illegally imported the undocumented alligators into Texas for resale.
One citation issued for No Alligator Wholesale Dealer Permit. Two warning citations were also issued for No Alligator Import Permit and two warning citations for illegal sale of alligator.
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