Two California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Officers—dressed in plainclothes while boarding a flight in San Diego—overheard a couple talking about hunting in November 2023. A friendly conversation, and the unsuspecting couple mentioned they were they were transporting a sea turtle skull from the East Coast in their luggage.
Then the talkative pair discussed their unlawful take of a mountain lion, which is a specially protected species in California that is illegal to hunt or possess in whole or in part. They also mentioned a close family member’s unlawful possession of multiple taxidermized mountain lions, a wolverine and wolves at the his residence and shared a video of the room in which they were displayed.
After deboarding the plane, the wildlife officers asked if the couple would show them the sea turtle skull. The suspects acknowledged the potential unlawful possession and waited until after any Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers could witness where they concealed it in carry-on luggage. The skull belonged to a green sea turtle, a federally listed endangered species illegal to possess and transport.
Once back to their patrol districts, the wildlife officers authored search warrants for the couple’s residence in Chico, Calif., and the family member’s residence in Napa County. The warrants were signed by judges in Butte and Napa counties.
In the process of serving the search warrant in Butte County, wildlife officers found the couple processing a deer that was taken illegally earlier in the day. Deer season was closed, and the suspects had no deer tags. Also inside the residence, wildlife 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 in California. Mounted raptors and raptor parts are illegal to possess without appropriate state and federal permits.
At the family member’s residence in Napa County, meanwhile, wildlife officers discovered two illegal, full-bodied taxidermized mountain lions and one full-bodied taxidermized wolverine. Wolverines are another fully protected species in California illegal to possess.
All the unlawfully possessed animals and parts of unlawful animals were seized as evidence for the prosecution in Napa County, Butte County and in federal district court.
CDFW’s investigation was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and prosecuted by the Butte County and Napa County district attorney’s offices and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. It resulted in guilty pleas, fines and probation for all three suspects late last month.
“This case exemplifies the unwavering preparedness and swift action demonstrated by our wildlife officers,” said CDFW Chief of Law Enforcement Nathanial Arnold. “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…The individuals involved exhibited a flagrant disregard for laws governing natural resources and are now being held accountable for their actions.”
