11/2/2011

Special Investigations Unit PRIORITIES Wildlife Enforcement and • Preventing the importation of Public Health prohibited species • Identifygying and sto ppgpping the illeg al commercialization of fish and wildlife Satellite Conference and Live Webcast Thursday, November 10, 2011 • Helping the agency or department 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Central Time accomplish its goals

Produced by the Department of Public Health Video Communications and Distance Learning Division

Special Investigations Illegal Importation Unit PRIORITIES • Deer • Promoting professionalism throughout our ranks • Furbearers • Increase the effectiveness of all • Feral swine enforcement personnel through • Reptiles better training and cooperation • Possible injurious species • Providing field officers with any – Wild rodents, invasive plants, fish, necessary assistance and animals

Alabama Law: 9-2-13 Alabama Law: 9-2-13 • (a) The Commissioner of • (b) This section does not apply to Conservation and Natural Resources birds, animals, reptiles, amphibians, may prohibit by duly promulgated and fish used for display purposes regulation the importation of any for carnivals, zoos, circuses, and bird, animal, reptile, amphibian, or other like shows and exhibits where fish when the importation of the ample provision is made so the animal, bird, reptile, amphibian, or birds, animals, reptiles, amphibians, fish would not be in the best interest and fish will not escape or be of the state released in this state

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Alabama Law: 9-2-13 Alabama Law: 9-2-13 • (c) Any person, firm, corporation, • . . . shall be guilty of a Class C partnership, or association who or misdemeanor, except that the which imports, brings, or causes to punishment for each offense shall be be brought or imported into the State of Alabama anypy bird, animal, reptile, a fine of not less than one thousand amphibian, or fish, the importation of dollars ($1,000) nor more than five which has been forbidden by duly thousand dollars ($5,000) or promulgated regulation of the imprisonment in the county jail for commissioner, shall be in violation of not more than 30 days, or both this section and upon conviction thereof . . .

Alabama Regulation: 220-2-.26 Alabama Regulation: 220-2-.26 • (1) No person, firm, corporation, – Any Piranha or any fish of the partnership, or association shall genus Serrasalmus possess, sell, offer for sale, import, – Any Black Carp of the genus bring or cause to be brought or Myyplophar ygyngodon imported into the State of Alabama – Any species of Mongoose any of the following live fish or animals: – San Juan Rabbits, Jack Rabbits or any other species of wild rabbit or – Any Walking Catfish or any other hare fish of the genus Clarias

Alabama Regulation: 220-2-.26 Alabama Regulation: 220-2-.26 – Any of the following from any area – . . .mountain (Felis concolor), outside the state of Alabama: any bobcat (Felis rufus), Pronghorn member of the family Cervidae (to Antelope (Antelocapridae), any include but not be limited to deer, nondomestic member of the elk, moose, caribou), species of families Suidae (pigs), Tayassuidae coyote, species of fox, species of (peccaries), or Bovidae (bison, raccoon, species of skunk, wild mountain goat, mountain sheep) rodent, or strain of wild turkey, black bear (Ursus Americanus), . . .

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Alabama Regulation: 220-2-.26 Alabama Regulation: 220-2-.26 • (6) It shall be unlawful to possess, • (7) It shall be unlawful for any person sell, offer for sale, import, or release to possess, sell, offer for sale, import, or release any non- any of the following fish: indigenous venomous reptile in or – Chinese pp(erch (Siniperca spp.), all into the State of Alabama,,py except by snakeheads (Channa spp.), all mud written permission of a designated employee of the Department of carp (Cirrhinus spp.), or blue back Conservation and Natural Resources herring (Alosa aestivalis) authorized by the Director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to issue such permits

Lacey Act Lacey Act • The Act prohibits trade in wildlife, • The Act underscores other federal, fish, and plants that have been state, and foreign laws protecting illegally taken, possessed, wildlife by making it a separate transported or sold offense to take, possess, transport, or sell wildlife that has been taken in violation of those laws • Felony provision if value of wildlife is over $350

Illegal Commercialization Illegal Commercialization • Deer (live and venison) • Furbearers – Legal breeders ($1000-$75,000) – Red Foxes ($60-$100) – Unlicensed breeders ($250-$1500) – Coyotes ($75-$150) – Illegal licensed breeders ($250- – Raccoons ($10) $10,000) • and dog fighting – Processors ($3 to $7/lb) – USDA licensed breeders

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Illegal Commercialization Illegal Commercialization • Paddlefish (Spoonbill) • Freshwater Mussels – Processed eggs up to $200 / lb – Depends on shell $.50-$1.00 / lb – Unprocessed $100 / lb – Unlicensed buyers – Meat $1 / lb – Not paying tax • Freshwater Fish

Paddlefish Screening Eggs

Up to $300 to fishermen Up to $1300 to retailer

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Cultured Pearl Industry • Commercial harvester • Wholesale buyer/exporter • Bead cutting • Implantation

$2400 if Counterfeit

Cultured Pearl Industry Cultured Pearl Industry

Motor, Compressor, Beer Keg Coke Canister Air Reservoir Air Reservoir, and Milk Crates

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Illegal Commercialization Illegal Commercialization

• Feral Swine $50-$250 • Non-indigenous Venomous Reptiles – Transport permits required – Gila Monsters over $1000 each – Release and habitat destruction – Gaboon Vipers and Rhino Vipers – Disease issues such as Brucellosis several hundred $ each and Pseudo rabies – Western Diamondbacks and other • Reptiles $10- $5000 exotic rattlesnakes from $3.00 per foot to $100 each

Illegal Commercialization

• Protected species – Alligator Snapping Turtles, Map Turtles, Box Turtles, Pine Snakes, etc. mainly for trade , $50 to $5000

Snakes on Planes • Subjects picking up venomous reptiles in and New Mexico • Selling on Internet • Smuggled in suitcases

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Limestone County Reptiles • Two subjects illegally importing non- indigenous venomous reptiles – Primarily South American Rattlesnakes • Led to search warrants and seizure of 13 snakes, computer, and other evidence • SIU conducted forensic analysis and found child porn

Jackson County and Marshall County • Dave Langella pleaded guilty to two felony counts of violating the Lacey Act for illegally importing non- indigenous venomous reptiles

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Game Fish = Money Targeted Species

• The illegal commercialization of • Striped Bass game fish was one of the most • Crappie widespread problems in the early • Bream 90’s • Market is rebounding with demand for Stripe bass and other game fish • Several thousand dollars in fines and restitution obtained in D-2 last year

Non-game Fish Snakehead Fish

• Primary issue is fish taken from • Uniformed officers initiated closed waters, regulation prohibits investigation after locating protected using commercial gear in those species in pet store waters • Intelligence identified company • Anyone selling non-game freshwater importing injurious species on the fish must have a license prohibited import list • Joint investigation between Alabama, , and USFWS

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Snakehead Fish Snakeheads • Sun and other distributors • Investigated over 25 pet stores shipping Snakeheads, Piranhas, Pine throughout Alabama Snakes, Asiatic Vine Snakes, etc. to • Documented over 200 violations Alabama and other states • Seized 9 Snakeheads, 1 Piranha, 3 Cobras, 1 Asiatic Vine Snake, and 1 undersized turtle • 17 shop owners convicted in state court

Snakeheads • 3 Lacey Act convictions on Sun Pets • Also prized for table fare in Asian cuisine

Deer and Exotic Hoof Stock AL Enforcement History • Prohibition against importation for • Northern deer from Michigan and over 30 years, primarily due to were imported into disease issues Alabama in mid 1990s – Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) – Subjects were charged federally, • A transmissible spongiform but allowed to keep the deer as encephalopathy (TSE) of cervids part of plea agreement – Tuberculosis • Subsequent investigations revealed • Can be spread to domesticated approximately one dozen similar animals and humans violators

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AL Enforcement History Most Recent Cases • Over last 7 years, we have convicted • Investigators videotaped subject four persons for importing whitetails, loading deer in Tennessee, followed two persons for importing black him to Alabama and within 4 hours bucks, three persons for importing were hunting the deer for a fee fallow deer and one for Muntjac deer • Subjects imported 5 fawns from Missouri to Alabama via a mini-van – Pleaded guilty to over 20 charges and paid over $18,000 in fines

Most Recent Cases Alabama Cases • 2001 – USDA paperwork was forged and appropriate vet checks were not – SIU conducted overt interviews on performed more than 20 licensed game breeders – Led to 5 year moratorium on issuance of new licenses – Eventually, SIU Intel led to changing of Alabama’s Game Breeder Law and Canned Hunt Law

Current Intelligence Current Intelligence • Alabama’s whitetail market is • Individual game animals are being artificially high due to the largest offered for hunting bucks and best genetics held by a • is often limited small number of game breeders • Other st at es h ave d ocument ed hi gh • Tame game animals are being fenced hunting preserves using hunted, including animals that were chemicals and other means to limit part of exhibitions fair chase

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Targeted Species Fallow Deer and Red Deer

• Whitetail Deer • Cheap alternative for some hunting enclosures • Fallow Deer • Live animals range from $250 to • Red Deer $2000 • Nondomestic Bovidae • Outlet for animals from exhibitors • Feral Hogs and petting zoos

Deer Deer

Axis Fallow

Deer Elk

Sika

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Red Deer Nondomestic Bovidae • A wide variety of goats and sheep are on the market for hunting – Ibex • Several species of wild mountain goats (genus Capra), distinguished by the male's large recurved horns

Nondomestic Bovidae Nondomestic Bovidae – The Mouflon (Ovis orientalis – The Corsican Family of Sheep orientalis) • Dall, Black Hawaiian, Painted Desert and American • A subspecies group of the wild Blackbelly Sheep and sheep sheep identified also simply as "corsicans” • These sheep are all mouflon hybrid sheep which have developed into unique and individual breeds

“Wild Sheep” “Wild Sheep”

Aoudad Mouflon

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“Wild Sheep” “Wild Sheep”

Corsican Painted Desert

Goat (Ibex)

Exotic Wildlife for Public Exhibition • , tigers, chimps and other such exotic animals are not regulated for personal possession by DCNR or Department of Agriculture • Exotic wildlife held for public display is mildly regulated through a $25 permit and annual inspection

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Overstock Feral Swine • Non-trophy animals become financial • Imported from Georgia and Florida liabilities and moved around the state • Possible markets are food and pets • Swine brucellosis is caused by the bacterium Brucella suis – Humans can get swine brucellosis through handling infected tissues of wild pigs

Feral Swine Feral Swine • In 2007, eight Florida hunters were • Because swine brucellosis can have diagnosed with swine brucellosis, a long incubation time, immediate and a Texas hunter recently symptoms may not be present contracted the disease when he did – Although few humans die of not wear gloves while cleaning a hog infection, the disease is often chronic and debilitating

Hog Facts Hog Facts

• Reproduction of feral swine • Estimated annual AGG damage from – Once a sow reaches breeding age feral swine: $52 million at 7 or 8 months of age they can be responsible for 1 ,000 plus feral swine in a 5 year period • States with feral hogs – 39, plus 4 Canadian provinces

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Feral Swine Translocation Richard Fleming • Trapped wild hogs on Fort Rucker • Commercial/private hunting and sold them for hog catches and operations are desiring feral swine release • Commercial processor demand may • Trapped and sold wild deer be increasing for European markets • Trapped and sold live coons • New trick is selling “Domesticated • Transported these animals for sale in Wild Hogs” or “Wild Domesticated knowing violation of the law Hogs” • Holding pen was under quarantine due to disease at time of the deal

Hog Catches Operation Snapper • Wild hogs are coming from Florida and Alabama • Lucrative cash business • Illegal gambli ng and d rugs generall y present • Assisted Department of Agriculture • Led to new law

Operation Snapper Operation Snapper • Over 40,000 pounds of turtles bought • Over 1,000 documented state and sold violations in 8 states • Over $50,000 worth of turtles bought • Operation began with $25,000 and and sold ended with $25 $25,000,000 in the bank • Over 60 felony and misdemeanor Lacey Act violations documented on over 40 people

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Disposition Disposition • 7 people convicted on 64 state • 5 subjects have pleaded guilty to charges in Alabama alone federal felonies, 1 additional target • Received over $10,000 in fines, pleaded guilty to federal suspended jail time time,, and $2600 misdemeanor restitution to the Alabama Wildlife • 8 subjects still to be indicted Federation for covert investigations

Markets • Meat Markets • Pet Trade • Turtle Farms

Alligator Snapping Turtles (ASTs) • World record ASTs may be worth up to $10,000 in foreign markets • ASTs in the 100-150 pound range are averaging $300 to $600 depending on the quality of the shell • ASTs under 100 pounds are for meat or breeders and sell for $1.00 to $1.50 per lb.

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Common Snappers • Sometimes called Loggerheads also • Meat turtles average $1.00 to $1.20 per pound at the market • Breeders average $1.50 per pound at the farm

Red-eared Sliders • Most commercialized turtle species in the • Farms buy breeders at a 3F to 1M ratio • Hatchlings sold in large numbers to overseas markets (primarily China) • Hatchlings sold domestically in pet market

Toy Maps Toy Maps • Black-knobbed Sawback, Ringed Sawback, Pearl River Map, Cagles Map, Alabama Map • Found in Rivers with moderate current • Retail prices range from $40 to $500, big seller on the Internet

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Box Turtles • Eastern Box Turtles most desirable • Ornate, Gulf Coast, and Desert Box Turtles also valuable • Protected in many states • Sold domestically and overseas in pet trade • Recent increase in demand and price • Going for $40.00 to $100.00 each now

Public Health Issues Changes in Law • Salmonella • Ten turtles per day from public water • Meat turtles taken from polluted • Turtle dealer/catcher/farmer permits waters • Slot limit for snappers and soft- • SSftafety s tan dard s of processed meat shhllells • More protected species

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Operation Foxote The Concern • Joint investigation between Alabama, • Unlike most cases, the issue is not Georgia, , South Carolina, the conservation of the exploited , , and species Tennessee • The real issues are: – With assistance from the AWF, – Protection of public/domestic SCWD, and USFWS animal health

The Concern – Protection of native wildlife from disease or non-indigenous competition – Lack of fair chase and other ethical considerations

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Method of Animal Transportation Method of Animal Transportation

Toyota T100 pickup truck

Problems Encountered Holding Coyotes

Problems Encountered Micro Chip Tracking of Animals Holding Coyotes

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Micro Chip Tracking of Animals Micro Chip Tracking of Animals

GPS Suspect Vehicle Tracker All Tracks Overlay Approximately 8000 Miles of Tracks

Suspects Animal Holding Area Disease Risk North Carolina • Rabies virus • Pathogenic tapeworm, Echinococcus Multilocularis • HHtitiepatitis, Parvo, Dist emper • Other health considerations

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Rabies and Foxhounds Rabies and Foxhounds • 1993 – Foxhound in Alabama died of • 1 year later, Texas rabies strain was a rabies strain found only in coyotes confirmed in five foxhounds in and dogs in South Texas Florida – Hound belonged to fox pen owner who reportedly imported coyotes from Texas – AL DCNR and CDC required depopulating of coyotes and foxes inside the pen

Case Overview Case Overview • 98 Counts of buying/selling game • 1 count of trapping during closed animals season • 103 counts of transporting protected • 2 counts of felony ABC Violations wildlife • 6 documented Lacey Act felony • 120 counts of possession of violations protected wildlife • An additional 40 animals were seized • 37 counts of importing prohibited during takedowns, with additional species charges

Other States Other States • Virginia conducted inspection on 41 • Georgia charged at least one subject permitted fox pens and closed 36 • North Carolina charged at least one pens for various violations subject • Indiana chargjged one subject with felony violations • South Carolina is awaiting indictments and have over 500 state charges pending

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Disposition to Date Item of Interest • 22 defendants have pleaded guilty to • DCNR is the state agency Alabama state charges responsible for security for the • Approximately $20,000 in fines and Strategic National Stockpile – the restitution release of materials during a natural disaster or pandemic • 5 plus years jail - suspended

Operation Gamewatch Operation Gamewatch • To report Alabama wildlife law violation in progress, call “Operation Gamewatch” at 1-800-272-4263 • Call your local District Office or the State radio operator at 334-242-3467 to provide information regarding past violations or to have your local Conservation Enforcement Officer contact you

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