Authorities search for snowmobiler who killed 57 ducks

[Go Big Red!]

Here's a new story of more snowmobilers being  holes again. 


Authorities search for snowmobiler who killed 57 ducks

BY RUSSELL PLUMMER • The Reporter • January 14, 2009

   

Brutality on open water left 57 mallard ducks dead Tuesday afternoon.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden Supervisor George Protogere of Green Bay said a call came in about 2 p.m. that the dead ducks were found in and around Fond du Lac River open water near the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“It appears that some were struck by a snowmobile and some were run over,” Protogere said.

He added that the ducks were fine when the caller who reported the incident was near the area at 9 a.m. that day. In the afternoon, dead ducks were located in an ice hole and on both sides of the ice hole.

Protogere said the ice hole is created by hot water discharge from the plant and, occasionally, snowmobile drivers will perform “water skipping” over the ice hole.

“From what we see at the scene, it appears that two passes were made,” Protogere said.

He noted that Fond du Lac County Conservation Warden Kyle Kosin collected the dead ducks for evidence and tests will be done in an effort to learn if they had any diseases and to help determine the cause of death.

“I want to stress this is an act of one person who operated a snowmobile that killed these ducks,” Protogere said. “By no means do I want this to reflect on the snowmobiling community. … I don’t consider this person a snowmobiler.”

The dead ducks were 37 drakes and 20 hens.

Protogere said Kosin is canvassing the area around the Wastewater Treatment Plant to try to find anyone who may have seen the killings.

“I think (the killer) is a person that has no concern for life at all and decided to do a reckless act,” Protogere said.

Anyone with information on the killings of 57 ducks near where Fond du Lac River flows into Lake Winnebago can call the DNR Tip Line at 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367) or the Fond du Lac Police Department Crime Alert Line at (920) 322-3740.

Outrage over the Saturday slaughter of five deer by snowmobiles in Waupaca County has built since authorities believe a group of snowmobilers herded the animals and proceeded to run them over.

When asked if Tuesday’s incident at Fond du Lac may involve a “copycat killer,” Protogere said he is focused on finding the driver.

“I really don’t know. Until we find out who did this and talk to them, it’s hard to speculate what the person’s motives were,” Protogere said.

He added that even though alcohol could not be ruled out, the fact that the killings occurred sometime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. would make that possibility unlikely.

If the person who killed the ducks is located, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Dan Kaminsky will decide the charging decision. Protogere said cruelty to animals charges might be a result and allegations of DNR violations could be involved if and when the operator is found.

Fond du Lac Police Department Major Dennis Fortunato said police were made aware of the killings, but the situation was handled by the DNR.

[kingfisher1]

that's disgusting.

[beeker]

they better catch all the a-holes and punish them good and proper like...  flogging comes to mind..

[JohnWester]

why didn't the ducks fly???

[Cody Gruchow]

time to stop fining people for actions like this and take them out back behind the barn and   

[kingfisher1]

time to stop fining people for actions like this and take them out back behind the barn and   

why not just do this?   

[HUNTER2]

I agree, eliminate them from the gene pool!

[JCAMERON]

Tar and feather them! It boggles my mind how something like that could sound like a good idea to someone.

[kingfisher1]

I hate it how a few bad ones end up spoiling it for so many of us and give us a bad name.   

[Go Big Red!]

Here's the latest update on the duck killer.

Man who may have been involved in mass duck killing turns himself in

The Reporter Staff • January 15, 2009

 

A man claiming to be involved in the killing of 57 mallard ducks has come forward.

Authorities are still investigating, talking to other people and contacting the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office, said Department of Natural Resources Warden Supervisor George Protogere of Green Bay.

A call came in 2 p.m. Tuesday that the bodies were found in and around Fond du Lac River open water near the Fond du Lac Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Protogere added the caller was near the area at 9 a.m. Tuesday and the ducks were fine. In the afternoon, dead ducks were located in an ice hole and on both sides.

He said the ice hole is created by hot water discharge from the plant, and occasionally snowmobile drivers will perform “water skipping” over the ice hole.

[kingfisher1]

I hope he does turn himself in.  I also hope that he gets slapped with heavy fines, restitution, among other things.  I think that the feds should get involved in this as ducks are, in a way, federally protected.

[Jeremy (Yeti)]

I like Cody's idea.   

[Go Big Red!]

Here's a link for photos of the 57 dead ducks.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=U0&Dato=20090114&Kategori=FON01&Lopenr=901140809&Ref=PH

Saddest part is it's from my hometown.  I have seen the piles of ducks sit in this discharge before.

[kingfisher1]

Here's a link for photos of the 57 dead ducks.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=U0&Dato=20090114&Kategori=FON01&Lopenr=901140809&Ref=PH

Saddest part is it's from my hometown.  I have seen the piles of ducks sit in this discharge before.

what a watse!!!   

[sandmannd]

That's a very discusting thing!! Do think the piece of  was trying go shoot his sled across the open water? How many times would one have to do this to kill that many ducks?

[22lex]

Here's a link for photos of the 57 dead ducks.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=U0&Dato=20090114&Kategori=FON01&Lopenr=901140809&Ref=PH

Saddest part is it's from my hometown.  I have seen the piles of ducks sit in this discharge before.

We were just in Fon Du Lac in early September for a softball tourney. I'm going to assume it's near, or on the lake to the north of the complex we were at.

What a shame.

[22lex]

That's a very discusting thing!! Do think the piece of  was trying go shoot his sled across the open water? How many times would one have to do this to kill that many ducks?

I would say once if they were all congregated in one area. I wouldn't think the greenheads would stick around for more after the first "drive by".