A Bowmanville man has been fined for a long list of infractions regarding the safety of wild birds, such as raptors.
Salvatore Trentadue pleaded guilty of failing to report the loss of an American kestrel, failing to report the death of a bald eagle, failing to report the acquisition of a great horned owl, unlawfully possessing a barred owl and unlawfully selling a turkey vulture.
He was fined $10,000.
In addition, Trentadue received a probation order limiting the number of falconry birds he can possess and breed for two years.
He is also prohibited from participating in the Wild Take Program, which allows falconers to capture and keep one wild bird from an approved species list each year, for two years.
The court heard that on December 17, 2019, conservation officers conducted an inspection of Trentadue’s falconry birds and records.
The information gathered during the inspection was reviewed and an audit of the records was conducted.
Reported violations were identified involving an American kestrel, a bald eagle and a great horned owl.
Further investigation revealed that Trentadue unlawfully possessed a barred owl and unlawfully sold a turkey vulture.
Justice of the Peace Allison Forestall heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Whitby on January 5, 2023.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
