11-year-old saves baby bird’s life, gets fined $535

The National Examiner ^ | August 2, 2011 | Howard Portnoy

[Clintonfatigued]

It has been said that no good deed goes unpunished. Today a young girl who saved a lost baby bird from a violent death is learning the truth of that adage.

The child, 11-year-old Skylar Capo, noticed a tiny woodpecker on the lawn of her father’s Fredericksburg, Virginia, home as the family cat was poised above it, preparing to strike. Skylar, whose goal is to become a veterinarian, sprang into action. She shooed the cat off its prey, then gently gathered up the lost creature and carefully placed it in a temporary cage for the trip back to her mother’s house. Her plan was to care for the bird for a day or two, then release it.

But during a stop at a home improvement store on the drive back, the Capos were approached by an agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The woman told them that the woodpecker is a protected species and needed to be released back into the wilderness—which is precisely what Skylar did the moment she and her mother arrived home.

The two assumed the matter was resolved until two weeks later, when the same agent appeared at their door, this accompanied by a State Trooper. Alison Capo, Skylar’s mom, was slapped with a $535 fine and warned that she may face jail time for violating the Federal Migratory Bird Act, which makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Another sad example of a government worker with no real job and therefore too much time on her hands to do mischief.

And Washington DC politicians keep telling us they need more money.

Wake up voters!!!!

[AlexW]

“Nothing against the poster, but I’m officially sick and tired of this topic now. :)”
______________________________

Why?
Does it occur to you that many of us do not stay up 24/7 and read every post?
This is the first that I have heard of this story.

It is important to always point out the increasing
perversion of police power that is infesting the new USSA.

It really should not be any problem for you to just pass over threads that you do not want to read.

[hinckley buzzard]

I have to wonder--are gubbermint dicks getting more stupid or has this kind of dogcrap been going on for years under the radar. This ranks right up there with the various lemonade stand busts across the country.

[Teacher317]

As in all situations, The Simpson's has already covered this:

Screamapillar
The Screamapillar is an endangered species that takes up residence in a Koi Pond in the Simpson family's backyard. It is large and red and is similar to a caterpillar.

The Screamapillar is easily identified by its constant screaming—it even screams in its sleep. The Screamapillar is the favorite food of everything, is sexually attracted to fire, and needs constant reassurance or it will die. After learning all of this, Homer remarked, "You sure God doesn't want it to die?"
The Simpsons were forced to take care of the Screamapillar by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA Man told them that because the Screamapillar had chosen to live in their yard, they were responsible for its well-being. He gave them a booklet which explained how to care for the Screamapillar.
Homer nearly killed the Screamapillar (accidentally), and he was sentenced to 200 hours of community service. When Homer was later sentenced to death for another crime, the Screamapillar smiled and laughed when Homer was in the electric chair.

[Southack]

Too many rules for freedom to survive.

[vetvetdoug]

I had a Special Permit to handle and rehabilitate birds of prey back in the late 1980’s. The Department of the Interior sent me a notice that I was to begin paying a fee of $200/year to have the privilege of taking in birds of prey from Game Wardens and treat these birds at my expense. I sent them a note back stating that this was ludicrous and was not going to pay to care for birds at my expense for the Game Wardens. The Department of the Interior then sent me a threatening letter that I would be fined $100,000 and imprisoned for a year if I were to have a bird of prey or endangered species at my clinic with out the permit. Another veterinarian in Virginia felt the same and ignored the threat and was fined over $100,000 for having an injured hawk in his possession. From that day, I refuse to accept any wildlife from Game Wardens or citizens. The government employees and do gooders can all go have sex with themselves.

[lephantom]

One of your communist government’s trillions of RULES to tax and control you.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

"“Do you really think we want those laws observed?" Said Dr. Ferris. We want them broken. You better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick and you'd better get wise to it. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now, that's the system Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Chapter 3, Page 404

[ArmstedFragg]

backed down and even apologized

Before, or after, the media got wind of this?

[Sporke]

It’s not a problem to skip over posts, however, when I see 6 or 7 posts on the same topic, it gets old.

It’s also not a problem for people who don’t spend all day on FR to scroll back to older posts, I do it all the time.

This is a non-story anyway, since no fine will have to be paid, especially now that it’s gone viral.

It really should not be any problem for you if I have an opinion. :)

[yldstrk]

Laws? Or just a way to generate revenue.........

[Logical me]

I had a friend that doubted me that I said we now live in a police state. We are lawed to death. One less friend that obviously to ignorant to see the truth. There is not one person in the US that have not committed a crime.

[_a_0_0_]

my little girl loved animals and was always "rescuing" them (we took in and spayed/neutered countless stray cats). one day a bird came into our lives, and we wound up having to take it to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, which process reminded very much of a meeting I'd had with the IRS years before; and also, when the SWAT team raided my office one evening.

No, we never rescued birds after that. Those people are freaking scary.

[6SJ7]

Nothing against the poster, but I’m officially sick and tired of this topic now. :)

Are you feeling henpecked, woodpecked, or just plain piqued about the woodpecker story?

[Tupelo]

Typical “thinking” by an all important federal official.
Better the woodpecker be dead than having some silly human interfere with it's migration.
What really amazes me is the Fish & Wildlife Agent did not shoot the cat.

[Psalm 144]

I have to wonder—are gubbermint dicks getting more stupid or has this kind of dogcrap been going on for years under the radar.

*******************************************

Having been a participant in the law racket, I can say that these types of incidents USED to be rare. Four important factors have changed, and you hit the bullseye with one of them.

1) YES! They are getting more stupid.

2) Not only are they more stupid, but there are more of them.

3) Not only are they more stupid and there are more of them, there are more stupid statutes on the menu for selective enforcement.

4) Government at every level is broke. These excesses and insane fines are in part mere shakedowns for more money. (I did say law racket.)

[CedarDave]

This incident is yet another canary singing in the mine.

No, in the context of this thread, this incident is yet another woodpecker hammering on the roof.

[kiryandil]

Did they shoot her dog and Tase the uppity little peasant wench for “resisting”?

[TBP]

Pure totalitarianism, carried out by unfeeling egotists.

[kiryandil]

Multiple federal felonies. Get rid of them, or get a backhoe to deal with the battalion of Federal enforcers that may show up at your door (ShootShovelShutup)...