The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-05-23
Us. Government Threatens
. Clamp Down On Trapping
Of Song, Insect Birds Her,
|)ckISr CALLED HERE BY
s1lA9P INCREASE N
ILLEGAL PRACTICEBY
RESIDENTS

~A<1<LSSAA 1&AAA1NE0 d
RESIDENTS
Ihe FEDERAL Government
oaroa1sned today to clamp
1own" on widespread trapping Of
4gdh IN Key West. J. ". Kelsey,
oogne MANAGEMENT agent Of the
IN and Wildlife Service, u. S.
DEPARTMENT Of Interior, said that
~ next step Of the. Government
vt1l b prosecution Of individuals
)Qdulging in the practice.
xslsey ives called here ~ IN
unnsual number q complaint
polaiive % ihs Illegal irappins
~ possessing Of song and In
epe1lvosous birds IN Kay West.
= b Spending about three
Gays En- the island. checking
osmplsints. s,eamining condi-
l1eas and getting I genssad
seizure Of The situation.
The official said that the Gov
ernment has been most lenient
With Key Westers in the past in
eoonrd to bird-trapping. realiz-
~ that il is done primarily for
~ love Of birds" He said that
ely catbirds and 4 few others
~ caught for food. but that the
ooQGbirds are captured through
GEcor affection.
Hence. he said. he has tried to
GAoW % much leniency as pos
o1ble. Several years ago 10 per-
cunD were arrested for trapping
k1yds here. but Kelsey dismissed
om al without pressing
GHorDss after checking the tradi-
nn1 ~ the people and the mo-
1|Votlons for catching the wing
- eseotures.
ogoons now possessing trap
- birds are ordered by KEEL
- - release them at a certain
$50 agreeable to their migra-
- habits. Zone year from to-
~" he said. I'VE will make an
o1>er check and will show no
u1rso leniency. Anyone caught
- ~ put through the mill"
ru1aining that Key West Is,
= - = he knows ssthe only
noo Ii the South where birds
- >rapped." kelsey released
- 1ollowing statement:
Joouo oomplalnAs than usual
~ sooeAoa NJ Fish and
D1111oo 0esviee q The De-
nngomon1 e ~ ynissiaR and.
- U)ogiao oame and Fresh
n1us yIsh cemmission selas
- - ~ Illegal isapping and
Onnson11n0 g 49, and insect
vuDoue hls6s ~ eestaiR eiai-
- y xoY WeetT eovegfnOst ~
I1I0~U -
- whlGh hos I'm eA66 n
snvosy song o. nsectivorCAs
1 Inst visits Ile{ West q s11f0-
oC>Di eistef under the FEDERAL
y State Wildlife regulations. and
- trapping or possessing Of any
q oheoe birds h illegal. and any.
60 - trapping or possessing. !.
n6bject 10 arrest and prosecution
IAN sellesss whose duty Il
= - eafesee The regulations
ugooos1lnU ihese birds feel that
~ have heen NEST lenient II
GocossinU ihe taking Of drastic
oe16ea - heeak up these "
oooo1 psseiiees. This has besn
49, II He hspe that the To-
81 situation would iron itself
60 ~ . gradual decrease n
enoh vio1ations. but 4 now
oDDeass these practices are On
~ incsease. Jhesefors. this Is
olnal warning. The next move
upou ths part 81 all otficsrs
oonsognsd win b arrests and
peosecusions.
birds now illegally held il
cuptivity should be released, bu
ma st this time, as the northern
migration for such birds ha
passed and fresh water condi
tions ON the keys to the mort
are not favorable for their SAT
Slisht TO, the Florida MAINLAND
However. ON the next migratio
flight. all such birds should be re
leased.
1T Is sincerely hoped ths
those who have been engaged !
illegal bird trapping activitie
and those who now illegally POI
cess migratory birds, will cor