State and federal wildlife companies netted a Washington State man after he allegedly captured a number of species of butterflies from a state park in Key Largo.
Tad R. Norman, 76, was charged on June 5 with illegal take and possession of wildlife.
Since 2021, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), has acquired a number of reviews of butterfly poaching inside Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. The removing of any wildlife from the park is strictly prohibited.
Regardless of elevated patrols and public reviews, the one lead within the case had been a car with Washington State license plates.
On June 5, a witness reported seeing a person, later recognized as Norman, utilizing a butterfly web close to the park and leaving the realm in a truck bearing Washington State tags. FWC and FWS officers rapidly responded and located the car. An FWC officer performed a visitors cease and found Norman in possession of 15 deceased butterflies, every individually saved in small envelopes. The butterflies have been recognized as Julias, Nice Southern White (Ascia monuste) and Florida Purplewing (Funica tatila).
Norman was issued a discover to seem. His arraignment was July 9 earlier than Choose Sharon Hamilton on the Plantation Key Courthouse.
“Floridians know our pure sources are our best treasure,” mentioned Main Alberto Maza, South Bravo Regional Commander. “The poaching of any wildlife is not going to be tolerated on state lands.”The general public is inspired to report potential wildlife violations by downloading the FWC Wildlife Alert app, calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922), or submitting a tip on-line at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.