NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.ecoenquirer.com/eagle-apology.htm


(Sioux Falls, SD) A peaceful Sunday of fishing turned sour for Josh Williams recently. The problems started when Mr. Williams hooked a nice smallmouth bass, and a bald eagle took notice. While the eagle swooped in, attempting to catch the bass in its talons, Mr. Williams was observed by a Fish and Wildlife Service officer trying to scare the eagle away by throwing stones at it.

The FWS officer testified in U.S. District Court of South Dakota that Mr. Williams had clearly violated one of the Endangered Species Act's prohibited activities that specifically makes it illegal to "...harass....an endangered or threatened species without a permit from the Secretary of the Department of the Interior."

The judge agreed, finding the man guilty of a misdemeanor violation of the Act. The judge was lenient in sentencing, however, requiring only that the man apologize to the eagle. Mr. Williams expressed remorse, stating that the eagle would be welcome to help him fish anytime it wanted to. The eagle had no comment.


Just have to wonder about some things......

Hey the man caught it first! Stupid bird ought to know better!

"The eagle had no comment."

As a journalist myself (albeit one currently out of work), I hafta say that right there is brilliant! :D

What the fuck...

Ok, umm, what was the judge smoking, and where can I get it?

Seems to me the Judge got it about right.
The guy didnt really deserve whatever the maximum fine is. His intent probanly wasnt that bad and the eagle could have flown away before a second rock was thrown. He was pretty inept at harassing and worrying the eagle if that was his intent.

What should have happened in the real world is the FWS officer should have sternly warned the guy about his eagle harassing ways and told him all about the maximum fines etc. The guy wouldve calmed down. He wouldnt harass any more eagles and the FWS officer would be out protecting eagles instead of in court.

Seems to me the Judge got it about right.
The guy didnt really deserve whatever the maximum fine is. His intent probanly wasnt that bad and the eagle could have flown away before a second rock was thrown. He was pretty inept at harassing and worrying the eagle if that was his intent.

What should have happened in the real world is the FWS officer should have sternly warned the guy about his eagle harassing ways and told him all about the maximum fines etc. The guy wouldve calmed down. He wouldnt harass any more eagles and the FWS officer would be out protecting eagles instead of in court.
But in bringing this case to court, they're highlighting to the public that they take no harassment of the eagles lightly, which is a good thing.

But in bringing this case to court, they're highlighting to the public that they take no harassment of the eagles lightly, which is a good thing.
what Harrasement. the man was only protecting his catch. now if the eagle flew away, and then the fisherman followed the eagle to it's nest, then started with the prank calls, the late night pizza delieveries, vandalizing the nest.... :D

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=473364

Already been posted. Though it's funny enough to warrant being posted again.

Apologising to an.... eagle?

I thought frivolous lawsuits were bad.
But frivolous sentences are even worse.

Hahah it does make me wonder though did the eagle accept the apology?

On a serious-ish note though, it does seem a bit silly. We have the same problem over here in the UK.

I'm a fisherman, as well, and we have a huge issue with them, bloody cormarants. They eat a ridiculas amount of fish from our lakes and rivers each day, yet they are protected so these poor people that own fishing lakes are forced to break the law to protect their livlyhood. I mean it's not as if there where only a few, theres bloody 1000's of the buggers.

Apologising to an.... eagle?

I thought frivolous lawsuits were bad.
But frivolous sentences are even worse.

Exactly. The lengths to which judges in that country can go...

Here, if you're found guilty, you get fined or jailed. The judge doesn't get to invent punishment that is in itself grossly questionable and/or, as you said, frivolous.

just shows how stupid americans can be.

just shows how stupid americans can be.

Nah, it just shows how stupid humans can be. Stupidity is not an exclusive trait of the Americans.

Exactly. The lengths to which judges in that country can go...

Here, if you're found guilty, you get fined or jailed. The judge doesn't get to invent punishment that is in itself grossly questionable and/or, as you said, frivolous.
Jeez, you have no sense of humor do you.

This man was found guilty of breaking an obscure and arguably frivolous law against scaring off endangered animals. So the judge gave him an appropriately frivolous sentence and we can all have a laugh. Chill!

Jeez, you have no sense of humor do you.

This man was found guilty of breaking an obscure and arguably frivolous law against scaring off endangered animals. So the judge gave him an appropriately frivolous sentence and we can all have a laugh. Chill!


WARNING:

Fass has even less sense of humour than I do!


So it was a court order to have a laugh?



( PS: improve the planet: Vote 4 Myrth! )

Exactly. The lengths to which judges in that country can go...

Here, if you're found guilty, you get fined or jailed. The judge doesn't get to invent punishment that is in itself grossly questionable and/or, as you said, frivolous.


Maybe it was All Fools Day or summat like that...

Jeez, you have no sense of humor do you.

This man was found guilty of breaking an obscure and arguably frivolous law against scaring off endangered animals. So the judge gave him an appropriately frivolous sentence and we can all have a laugh. Chill!

Ahh frivolous. Which is applied to any law which people don't like.

So maybe we should take Swedens approach.

How would producing Saabs help?

Damn fascist fish and game officers

*Checks official 'Harassment Permit'*

Hmm... Yep. I can harass eagles. I love this thing. *kisses permit*

:D

Damn fascist fish and game officers

How dare you call the forest Nazis fascist.:gundge: :gundge:

*Checks official 'Harassment Permit'*

Hmm... Yep. I can harass eagles. I love this thing. *kisses permit*

:D

Are you allowed to worry badgers with that permit?

I so can I borrow it?