For immediate release                   For further information, contact
>July 31, 1998                      Spence Conley 413-253-8325
>                              Bob Garabedian 518-431-4341
>
>     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Cormorant Killers
>
>     HADLEY, MA -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, expressing revulsion
at
>the senseless slaughter of more than 800 double-crested cormorants in New
York's
>Lake Ontario, is offering to pay for information leading to the arrest and
>conviction of individuals responsible for "a brazen act of environmental
>terrorism."
>
>     According to Cathleen Short, deputy regional director, the Service has
>entered into an aggressive joint law enforcement investigation with New
York
>State Department of Environmental Conservation to determine just what
happened
>on Little Galloo Island, about 12 miles west of Waterdown, N.Y., where the
dead
>cormorants were found on Wednesday.
>
>     "We are appalled at this horrible act," said Short. "But we intend to
bring
>the perpetrators to justice for violation of federal criminal law. To
facilitate
>that, we are offering to pay for information that will lead to the arrest
and
>conviction of those involved."
>
>     To report information about the killing of cormorants on Little
Galloo,
>contact one of the following:
>
>     Bob Garabedian, the Service's law enforcement special agent in Albany,
at
>518-431-4341, or New York's Department of Environmental Conservation at
>315-785-2231, or place a confidential call to 1-800-TIPP DEC.
>
>     Both the Service and New York DEC have sent a number of the dead birds
to
>laboratories for forensic investigation.
>
>     Short explained that federal jurisdiction comes under the Migratory
Bird
>Treaty Act, a federal law designed to protect all migrating birds whether
>waterfowl, eagles or songbirds.
>
>     Short said she was especially disgusted by the nature of the Little
Galloo
>killings.
>
>     "The slaughter of adult birds at their nesting sites is particularly
>inhumane, as they leave young birds that are still flightless and dependant
on
>their parents for care," Short said.
>
>     "The Service is working with states and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture
>to manage fish-eating birds when they cause damage to private property,"
Short
>said.  "Studies to date on Lake Ontario and elsewhere have not shown that
>cormorants are having a significant impact on sport fish populations."
>
>     "The ignorance displayed by this killing is truly sad, but I hope that
this
>will heighten people's awareness and understanding of the role and value of
all
>wildlife," Short said.
>
>
>
>                             -FWS-
>
>
>
>
>============================================================
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>