Birding crimes

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2012

WASHINGTON D.C.— Convicted in District of Columbia Superior

Court of misdemeanor attempted cruelty to animals on October 31,
2011,  anti-feral cat ornithologist Nico Dauphine was on December 14,
2011 sentenced to do 120 hours of community service,  spend a year on
probation,  and pay a fine of $100,  with 180 days in jail suspended.
Dauphine is prohibited from volunteering or working with cats during
her time on probation.  A security camera caught Dauphine allegedly
trying to poison cats on March 2,  2011.  Employed at the time by the
National Zoo,  Dauphine has authored papers attacking neuter/return
feral cat control which have been distributed and cited by the
American Bird Conservancy and the Wildlife Society.

In other alleged crimes by birders:
*  Agronomist Gregory F. Kerr,  53,  of River Falls,
Wisconsin,  on December 12,  2011 pleaded not guilty to a felony
charge of mistreatment of animals causing death.  Kerr was charged
with shooting his neighbor’s cat in May 2011.
*  John G. Rocha,  82,  of Windsor,  Connecticut,  was  on
January 4,  2012 charged with illegally shooting a black bear who
damaged his bird feeder.