The second of two men arrested on federal charges of illegally being part of the taking a northern goshawk from a nest in Vilas county has been sentenced.
69-year-old James Kitzman of Oak Creek, Wisconsin was sentenced in federal court in Madison for engaging in a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. Kitzman and fellow falconer from Michigan, Edward Taylor, both faced federal charges, including having false paperwork.
U.S. Magistrate Stephen Crocker sentenced Kitzman to not take part in the sport of falconry for three years, was fined $15,000 and forfeited his pickup truck that was used in the illegal transport.
Kitzman and Taylor agreed to swap the goshawk taken illegally in Vilas county with a captive-bred finnish goshawk.It is illegal to sell or barter northern goshawks because they are migratory birds and protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Taylor paid a $10,000 fine.
The money paid will go the Lacey Act Reward Fund, in care of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The northern goshawk recently was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator. It will eventually be released back into the wild.
