Protected birds killed in rookery
Marco Island, FL (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009
County: Collier
Charges: Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Zachary J. Mato
» Cullen Mark Shaughnessy
» Joseph William Gursky
» Mark Lewis McClure
» Alexander Bruce Wilhelm
» Stephanie Marie Meads
» Keith G. Lisa
An Osprey man who graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in the fall was among a group of seven people arrested last week by wildlife officials in Collier County.
The group, including four naval officers, was taken into custody Feb. 17 after Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers heard gunfire and saw birds falling from the sky near a private rookery at Curcie Grade and County Road 92.
At least 21 dead wading birds were found. They included white ibis, blue herons, tree swallows and cormorants, which are protected under either state law or the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a spokeswoman for the state conservation commission said.
Mark Lewis McClure, 23, of Osprey, and three other naval officers enrolled in the Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola were arrested on trespassing charges.
All of them are now on administrative hold, meaning they will not progress any further in their studies pending the outcome of the civilian legal proceedings, a naval spokesman said.
The arrests were made about two hours after wildlife officers heard the gunshots, when they encountered four people leaving the rookery area on foot and three by boat.
Naval officers Joseph William Gursky, 22, of Hillsdale, N.Y., and Cullen Mark Shaughnessy, 22, of Marco Island, along with Zachary J. Mato, 22, of Marco Island, were each charged with felony trespassing with a firearm after officers saw guns in their boat, according to the FWC.
On foot were McClure, 23, Alexander Bruce Wilhelm, 24, of Annapolis, Md., Stephanie Marie Meads, 23, of Naples, and Keith G. Lisa, 31, of North Bergen, N.J., who were charged with misdemeanor trespassing, the FWC said.
Gabriella B. Ferraro, a spokeswoman for the conservation commission, said she expects additional charges to be filed soon. "We're prosecuting to the fullest extent," Ferraro said. References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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