Authorities search for snowmobiler who killed 57 ducks+deers

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Authorities search for snowmobiler who killed 57 ducks
By Russ Plummer • The Reporter • January 15, 2009

Brutality on open water left 57 mallard ducks dead Tuesday afternoon in Fond du Lac.

The ducks were found about 2 p.m. in and around open water on the Fond du Lac River near the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, said Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden Supervisor George Protogere of Green Bay.

It is the second incident in a week in the state regarding snowmobiles and animal cruelty. Authorities are searching for a group of snowmobilers who allegedly herded some deer, tortured and killed them in Waupaca County.

Some of the ducks in Fond du Lac were struck and some were run over by a snowmobile, Protogere said.

The ducks were alive when the caller who reported the incident saw the ducks about 9 a.m. that same day, he said. About five hours later, dead ducks were found in the water and on the surrounding ice.

Protogere said the open water is created by hot water discharge from the waste-water treatment plant and, occasionally, snowmobile drivers skip over the water.

“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.”

The dead ducks include 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 incident.

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

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

When asked if Tuesday’s incident in Fond du Lac may involve a “copycat,” 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 on charges. Protogere said charges could include cruelty to animals and DNR violations.

Kaminsky said cases involving animal cruelty would be handled with high importance in his office.

“I would treat any case the same when it comes into the office and I would expect the ADAs (assistant district attorneys) to do the same by reviewing the evidence, determining if there is a strong factual basis and charging accordingly.”

Fond du Lac Police Department Major Dennis Fortunato said the incident was reported to police but handled by the DNR.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090115/FON0101/90114157&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL#pluckcomments