Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BALLARD, Uintah County — State wildlife authorities are seeking the public’s help for information on who illegally killed eight Canada geese and left their carcasses together to waste in eastern Utah earlier this month.
The carcasses were found south of the Ballard City Office, 2381 E. 1000 South, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officers said in a Friday news release. The persons also left litter next to the dead birds.
Canada geese are among the protected species DWR oversees. The species is also protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The state allows hunting of geese, but the hunting season for dark geese ended on Jan. 26 in the region.
Per Utah Code, illegally killing a goose or similar game bird could result in a misdemeanor and a minimum $15 restitution fee per bird. Restitution fees go into education programs about wildlife crime prevention, wildlife crime detection equipment, operation of anti-poaching projects, and wildlife law enforcement training, according to the code.
A poaching conviction may also result in a person having their hunting privileges suspended or revoked in Utah and 48 other states, according to DWR's website.
Anyone with information about the geese illegally killed in Uintah County is encouraged to call DWR’s UTIP hotline for poaching cases at 1-800-662-3337. DWR officials say a reward may be available for any information that leads to a conviction in the case.
