Darrell Issa questions federal inquiry in heron-injury case
A U.S. congressman is demanding an investigation into the case of a Bay Point tree trimmer who is expected to face federal criminal charges for allegedly injuring baby night herons last month while pruning ficus trees outside an Oakland post office.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista (San Diego County), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide all documents related to the case against Ernesto Pulido by June 11.
"Prioritizing charges against a private citizen for incidental and relatively minor injuries to a non-endangered species - commissioned by a federal agency, no less - appears nothing short of bureaucratic bullying," Issa wrote in his letter to Daniel Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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The incident happened May 3 outside the Oakland Civic Center Annex post office at 13th and Alice streets. The post office hired Pulido to trim some ficus trees overhanging the parking lot because nesting herons and egrets were defecating on the mail trucks.
In the process, at least five baby birds fell from their nests. Witnesses, fearing that baby birds were being fed through the wood chipper, called police, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated Pulido for apparent violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
full: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Darrell-Issa-questions-federal-inquiry-in-5523711.php
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