Couple Didn’t Know They Were Bragging To Wildlife Officers About Illegally Taking Protected Animals

A California couple who bragged to fellow passengers on a flight that they were illegally transporting a sea turtle skull to add to a collection of other unlawfully possessed animals, including mountain lions, had no idea they were speaking to wildlife officers in plain clothes.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife this week announced the settlement of an investigation that began back in November 2023 when two of the agency’s canine officers were flying back to northern California from a training in San Diego.

The officers, who were wearing plain clothes, were seated in front of a couple who were discussing hunting, and they joined the unsuspecting couple’s conversation. The couple revealed they were transporting a sea turtle skull from the East Coast in their luggage, and talked about unlawfully taking a mountain lion, a protected species in California which is illegal to hunt or possess in whole or in part.

The couple also shared that a close family member had a “trophy room” in Napa County filled with multiple taxidermized mountain lions, a wolverine and wolves.

After deplaning, the wildlife officers asked the couple if they could see the sea turtle skull. The couple, clearly aware possession of the skull is illegal, waited until they were out of sight of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers before revealing the skull.

The wildlife officers returned to their districts and got search warrants for the couple’s residence in Chico, in Butte County, and their relative’s residence in Napa County.

While executing the warrant at the couple’s Chico residence, officers found the couple processing a deer that was illegally harvested earlier that day — while deer season was closed and the couple lacked deer tags. Officers found mountain lion claws, a ringtail cat, a barn owl mount, an illegal spike buck and several unlawfully taken deer with tagging violations.

Ringtail cats are a fully protected species, while raptors and raptor parts require state and federal permits to possess.

At their relative’s residence in Napa County, officers found two illegal, full-bodied taxidermized mountain lions and one full-bodied taxidermized wolverine. Wolverines are also a fully protected species in California.

Complaints were filed against 24-year-old Byron Lee Fitzpatrick, 28-year-old Shannon Lee Price in Butte County and against 64-year-old Harry Vern Fitzpatrick in Napa County.

Under the terms of state and federal plea agreements, Byron Lee Fitzpatrick was fined $1,865 by the state and $1,000 by the federal government. He sentenced to one year of probation prohibiting hunting or being around those engaged in hunting. Shannon Lee Price was fined $1,015 by the state and $1,000 by the federal government, and sentenced to one year of probation prohibiting hunting or being around those engaged in hunting. Harry Vern Fitzpatrick was fined $605, ordered to serve six-months probation.

All three were ordered to forfeit all unlawfully possessed and transported wildlife.

“This case exemplifies the unwavering preparedness and swift action demonstrated by our wildlife officers,” CDFW Chief of Law Enforcement Nathanial Arnold said in a statement. “It highlights a broad spectrum of natural resource violations and underscores the critical role our officers play in safeguarding our resources, not only here in California but elsewhere throughout the country and abroad. These violations encompass the take of deer out of season and the illegal possession of taxidermy, including endangered and protected species. Like human and narcotics trafficking, wildlife trafficking of both live animals and animal parts is known to fund transnational criminal organizations and their violent activities all over the world. The individuals involved exhibited a flagrant disregard for laws governing natural resources and are now being held accountable for their actions.”