Local News

Texas Man Shot Whooping Cranes, Now Awaits Sentencing

By  | 
Tony Maples Photography

 

According to the American-Statesman, “If it flies, it dies” was the motto of hunter Trey Joseph Frederick who shot two whooping cranes earlier this year in East Texas. Frederick is now facing charges since whooping cranes are endangered creatures.

Obviously, Frederick’s actions directly hurt active conservation efforts to keep the species alive. In the mid-1800s, 1,400 whooping cranes migrated to Texas, but by the 1930s, only 18 were left. The roughly 450 cranes we have now show the success of the efforts.

Frederick has pled guilty, but originally he insisted that he saw another man shoot the birds and “failed to chase him down.” Now, he could be fined up to $50,000 and spend a year in jail as a maximum sentence.

Conservationist and Houston Audubon board member Judy Boyce told the American-Statesman, “The question of Trey Frederick’s just punishment is one I have been wrestling with. I lean toward a permanent revocation of his hunting privileges, which just might serve as a deterrent to other hunters, whereas community service, jail time and fines don’t seem to have much clout.”

She also suggested that Frederick should spend some time doing community service with wildlife protectors and conservationists to understand what goes into their efforts and why it’s so important.