Waubay Taxidermist Sentenced on Wildlife Charges

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A federal judge has given a Waubay taxidermist 2 years of probation with 8 months of home confinement for two counts of unlawful possession of migratory birds and one count of unlawful possession of endangered species.

United States Attorney Brendan Johnson says the conviction stems from an incident in which 54-year-old Kevin Jorgenson received and possessed 535 migratory birds - one merlin hawk and one sharp skinned hawk - as well as one Western Great Lakes gray wolf, an endangered species.

Johnson says none of the wildlife was properly tagged, as required by both federal and state law.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department.

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