Woodpecker-Saving Daughter Costs Mom $500, Possible Jail Time

[The Straight Story]

Woodpecker-Saving Daughter Costs Mom $500, Possible Jail Time

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (WUSA) -- Eleven-year-old aspiring veterinarian, Skylar Capo, sprang into action the second she learned that a baby woodpecker in her Dad's backyard was about to be eaten by the family cat.

"I've just always loved animals," said Skylar Capo. "I couldn't stand to watch it be eaten."

Skylar couldn't find the woodpecker's mother, so she brought it to her own mother, Alison Capo, who agreed to take it home.

....

But on the drive home, the Capo family stopped at this Lowes and they brought the bird inside because of the heat. That's when they were confronted by a woman from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"She was really nervous. She was shaking. Then she pulled out a badge," said Capo.

http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/161065/158/Woodpecker-Saving-Daughter-Costs-Mom-500

[Mojorabbit]

1. Something doesn't seem right about the story

If it was a baby bird, then it's parents should still be feeding it and letting it go will prob be a death sentence. She should be allowed to transport it to a rehab center though without any difficulty. Baby woodpeckers like other baby birds need every 15 to 20 minute feedings of the correct foods from dawn to dusk. If the fish and game person was concerned she should have talked them into giving her the bird at Lowes. I only rarely have failed to have people give up the wild animals they were trying to help to me. A little education of what is involved in raising them and a friendly tone usually are sufficient.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. I don't know about the feedings every 15 to 20 minutes. I spent a couple of

months observing the Decorah eagles and the parents didn't feed them that often at all. Maybe every couple to 3 hours in the beginning, then lengthening out as the babies got older.

[Mojorabbit]

16. I do wildlife rehab

and the small birds are fed that often. You are right about the bigger raptors.

[Wabbajack_]

2. After she pulled out the badge I'd have pulled out my middle finger

[Javaman]

3. call me crazy...

but why do I get this feeling that this is a hit piece on the Dept of fish and wildlife?

Yeah, I'm always paranoid, it keeps me alive.

[wtmusic]

5. +1. Big government vs. the baby woodpeckers. nt

[backscatter712]

4. I agree - this is a Freeptard anti-government hit piece.

Straight from the short-bus party...

[yellowcanine]

6. Not sure she should be fined, but I do disagree with her actions.

In general one does wild animals no favors when they are removed from their habitat and transported elsewhere. Survival chances decrease for all kinds of reasons. And failure to immediately identify the mother of a baby wild animal does not mean the mother is not around somewhere. Some wild animal mothers are not going to show themselves as long as an intruder is around. For example every year "abandoned fawns" are "rescued" by well meaning people. The fawns aren't "abandoned", leaving a fawn hidden in cover is a basic survival strategy of a female deer. Many birds use a similar strategy. They try to lure potential predators away from the nest but if a potential predator finds the nest the bird is better off from a survival standpoint to give up on the babies and preserve their reproductive potential for another opportunity.

If they thought the bird was in danger from the cat the solution is to deal with the cat by keeping it indoors, not moving the bird.

[wtmusic]

7. In this case I agree with her actions.

Baby birds fallen from a nest will die within hours, whether there's a cat there or not.

[XemaSab]

15. Woodpeckers don't "fall from the nest"

They nest in tree cavities. Either the bird was fledging or something pulled it out of the nest.

[Mojorabbit]

17. We don't know how young it was

fledglings commonly are on the ground and the mothers feed them there. If they let it go I am assuming it had feathers and was not super young.

[yellowcanine]

20. This bird was not helpless. It flew away when she got it to her house.

[Wabbajack_]

8. Oh come on, it's a bird

People, kids especiallylike to help injured birds, big deal.


The article has an update

"Upon speaking with the subject, later identified as Alison Capo, on June 27, the agent determined that no further action was warranted. A citation that had been previously drafted by the agent was cancelled on June 28.

Unfortunately, the citation was processed unintentionally despite our office's request to cancel the ticket. The Service has contacted Ms. Capo to express our regret. The Service is also sending Ms. Capo a formal letter explain the clerical error and confirming that ticket should never have been issued.

This misunderstanding was the result of a Service inquiry into possible violations of federal wildlife law. In particular the Service is responsible for the protection of all federally listed migratory birds. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries did not participate in the inquiry.""

[yellowcanine]

21. No indication that the bird was injured. People's "help" is not always helpful

in the case of wild animals (yes a woodpecker is a wild animal). Just because the citation was dropped (which I agree with) doesn't mean the woman did the right thing. In general wild animals of all sorts should be left alone when possible. At the least, they should not be transported to other sites and left go. There are territory issues, habitat issues and the possibility of injuring the animal (or a person) during the transport if one lacks the knowledge and/or equipment to do it properly. Kids like to do a lot of things. That doesn't mean they are always the right thing to do.

[Poll_Blind]

9. This is a non-story- the DoF&W issued the citation in error and apologized. It's in the article.

The last 6 paragraphs.

PB

[lukasahero]

10. It was a mistake - doesn't anyone read the articles anymore?

"Unfortunately, the citation was processed unintentionally despite our office's request to cancel the ticket. The Service has contacted Ms. Capo to express our regret. The Service is also sending Ms. Capo a formal letter explain the clerical error and confirming that ticket should never have been issued."

[sammytko]

12. that was not there when this item was first posted. It was added at 1230PM

item posted at 0830

[deaniac21]

11. I was fined $1500 for picking up a dead golden eagle that I

saw on the bank as I paddled by in my kayak.

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. wow!

[deaniac21]

22. I stopped a us Park ranger to give it to him and WHAM!

[Maru Kitteh]

14. Unrec because the matter is already resolved if anyone bothered reading it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. Seems like the cops don't want to be associated with the actions ofthe DFW person

Virginia State Police just released the following statement:

"We have confirmed that the US Fish and Wildlife agent requested our presence when they served their federal summons. The trooper stood on the porch and said nothing. We had nothing to do with the charge."