According to Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Jeff Hull, on May 11 he received a report from a resident in Verona in southwestern Oneida County, NY, who claimed she had witnessed her neighbor shoot a Great Blue Heron from a shed behind his home. Officer Hull responded to the location and reported observing a .22 caliber rifle on the floor of the neighbor’s garage.
The subject denied shooting anything and advised he was working in his basement when the alleged shot happened. ECO Hull took a quick canvass of the property and discovered a deed heron next to a small pond and the subject’s shed, the same shed from which the complainant reported seeing the subject standing with the rifle.
The Officer also observed an open box of bullets for a .22 caliber rifle inside the shed.
According to Hull, the suspect changed his story once confronted with the evidence and provided a full statement admitting that he killed the heron because he claimed the birds eat the frogs and fish in the pond and then leave the carcasses on the banks, leaving a mess.
ECO Hull ticketed the subject for illegally taking protected wildlife, illegally taking a protected bird, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence. All tickets are returnable to the Town of Verona Court.
Photo of illegally killed heron discovered in Oneida County provided by DEC.
What a colossal JERK and liar.
Doubtless, this creep has donethis before.
They need to keep an eye on this person, maybe do surprise checks on his place.
So according to this wrongdoer, the Heron doesn’t swallow frogs and fish, rather the Heron eats only parts and leaves the rest on the shore? Hardly. As a stretch, let’s say this is true, wouldn’t lots of critters take care of the remains? Furthermore, the shooter actually left the dead Heron where it was shot. So, what’s his story now?