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Ville Platte Man Cited for Shooting Whooping Crane

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited a Ville Platte man on July 26 for allegedly shooting an endangered whooping crane in Evangeline Parish.

Agents cited Gilvin P. Aucoin, 52, for violating the Endangered Species Act after he admitted to shooting a whooping crane.

Agents were notified about a shot whooping crane that was found near a crawfish pond in the northeast corner of Evangeline Parish. Agents responded to the area and questioned Aucoin, who was working on the land at the time the crane was shot.

During questioning he admitted to shooting the crane with a .22 caliber rifle on July 25 while working on the property. Agents seized the .22 caliber rifle.

Violating the Endangered Species Act brings up to a $50,000 fine and a year in jail.

LDWF has released 125 whooping cranes since 2011 and are currently tracking 65 whooping cranes. The female crane in this case was released in 2011.