A pair of whooping cranes and sandhill cranes explore a corn field near Horicon Marsh in May. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, this particular species of whooping crane is found only in North America and is the tallest bird on the continent, reaching 5 feet in length. Storks are endangered, with over 800 in the world, both wild and captive. About 80 are in the eastern migratory herd’s nest in Wisconsin.
Kelly Simon, Beaver Dam Daily Citizen Archives
Last month, four endangered whooping cranes were shot and killed during sandhill crane hunting season in Oklahoma — a hunting season that could be made in Wisconsin if a GOP-authored bill is successful.
The International Crane Foundation, based in Baraboo, has warned that allowing the sandhill crane hunting season in Wisconsin could threaten the whooping crane, an endangered species the foundation has worked to reintroduce to Wisconsin. This threat appears to have become a reality in Oklahoma.
Whooping crane chick Wampanoag with foster mother Achilles on June 20 at the International Crane Foundation’s breeding facility. The Wampanoag Zoo in Massachusetts is the offspring of two storks at the Stone Zoo in New England. Footage provided by ICF.
On December 15, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reported that a whooping crane with a shotgun wound was found near Tom Steed Lake. Crane died on the way to the veterinary hospital.
Oklahoma game warden Jeremy Brothers approaches an injured whooping crane. The endangered bird later died of a shotgun wound.
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Later, three more whooping cranes were found dead in the same area where the first one was found, the department said. Officials in Oklahoma and Texas are searching for the perpetrators.
Wade Farrar, assistant law enforcement assistant for the Department of Wildlife, said in a statement, “It is sickening to see such unsavory waste of wildlife, and our game wardens are very much looking forward to accompanying the person or persons who have committed this crime.” ” Statement .
There are only about 500 whooping cranes in North America. Killing one could lead to a year in prison and a fine of $100,000 under the Endangered Species Act and up to six months in prison with another $15,000, the department said. The endangered bird is the tallest in North America.
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