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TUSCARORA, N.Y. (AP) — A southwestern New York sheep farmer and his two overseers have been charged with killing a pair of bald eagles and a red-tailed hawk with a hazardous pesticide.
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Thursday that 67-year-old farmer William Wentling faces charges after his workers poured poison on sheep carcasses that the birds later fed on. Necropsies found the birds died of pesticide poisoning.
Also charged were 41-year-old Eli Byler and 19-year-old Jonathan Byler. All three were charged with endangering public health and the environment and unlawful use of a restricted pesticide.
Authorities say the poison was used because hawks had been killing lambs on the farm in the Steuben County town of Tuscarora.
Phone numbers for the accused men are unlisted and it could not be determined if they have lawyers to comment.
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