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A driver is alleged to have gone out of his way to intentionally strike two Canada geese with his truck in Iowa earlier this year.
In a statement announcing his conviction last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the man was seen speeding up and swerving to hit the birds.
The incident is alleged to have occurred on March 3 in Ankeny, Iowa, a city just north of the state capital of Des Moines.
The 19-year-old driver was headed east when he accelerated his truck and swerved into the westbound lane to hit a goose, according to the Southern District of Iowa office.
He then swerved back into the eastbound lane to hit a second goose, according to court documents and evidence presented at the driver’s judge-only trial.
The driver from Huxley, Iowa, was convicted Thursday for violating the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
He has yet to be sentenced, but could face up to six months imprisonment or five years probation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He could also be sentenced to up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to US$15,000, or about C$21,000 at today’s exchange rate.
Canada geese are listed along with other birds as protected species south of the border. Other birds protected by the act include some species of albatrosses, ducks and blackbirds, certain eagles, several buntings and chickadees, and a variety of cormorants, flycatchers and crows. It also includes northern cardinals, ospreys, and several types of gulls, hawks and geese, orioles, kingfishers, hummingbirds, jays, sparrows, owls, pigeons, and more. In total, 1,106 species are protected.
Canada has a similar federal law protecting native migratory birds including Canada geese. The Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) emerged from a 110-year-old treaty signed by Canadian and American officials relating to the protection and conservation of birds.
The MBCA prohibits the harming of birds except under specific conditions, such as during hunting seasons.
Violations of the Canadian act can also lead to charges, such as in May, when an Ontario man was fined $1,000 for violations alleged to have included capturing, harassing, and attempting to injure Canada geese. In that case, the accused pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay his fine to Ducks Unlimited Canada, where the money will be used to support conservation efforts and habitat management in the area related to his conviction.
New Migratory Birds Regulations were put in place four years ago in an effort to address modern challenges related to the protected species.
