Five brown pelicans were found dead Saturday in Frenchtown near the Gustave Quetel Fish House, where the local fishermen keep their boats. Though the incident is under investigation, local fishermen suspect the birds may have been poisoned.
"All the little crabs and fish washed up on shore, dead too," said local fisherman Jimmy Magner. "These birds are our friends. We rely on them to show us where the bait is when they dive. How anyone could hurt them, that’s really stupid," he said. "This is an important issue."
After nearly 40 years under federal protection, brown pelican populations have recovered, and the bird has been completely removed from the list of endangered and threatened species, officials from the U.S. Department of Interior announced Nov. 11.
Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Beulah Dalmida-Smith said Monday the incident is under investigation. Though no longer under federal protection, the pelicans are still protected by local law under the V.I. Code, the territory’s constitution.
The five pelicans were a natural part of the fishing community, and the personal pets of Steve Turbe, who says he has been feeding them daily for the last six or seven years.
Speaking of the incident Monday, Magner and fellow fisherman Julian Magras said that they had noticed someone feeding the birds Saturday morning. "The birds were fine then," Magner said. "An hour and a half later, they were dead."
Turbe said that upon hearing of the incident, he retrieved the birds’ remains, put them in a bag and deposited them in the nearby dumpster. "I was so angry and upset at the time," he said. "I should have saved them so they could be tested to see what happened."
After a call from a member of the fishing community, Division of Fish and Wildlife enforcement officer Justin Magras came to investigate the incident. However, according to Julian Magras and Magner, Justin Magras hosed down the area where the dead pelicans had been but did not take any of the birds to be tested for toxicity.
When contacted Monday, DPNR Commissioner Robert Mathes, who is off island, said he hadn’t heard of the incident but would direct the department to take action.
Fish and Wildlife Assistant Commissioner Carmelo Rivera said Monday, "This is a very serious issue. I’m especially concerned about what the fish ate. We don’t want this to get into the fish catch."
Speaking Monday, Turbe was still visibly upset. "They were my pals, my friends" he said. The birds have names: Harold (the eldest), George, Gertrude, Lonnie and Christine. "I’ve been feeding Harold for about the last six or seven years," Turbe said, shaking his head. "I just don’t see how anyone could do this."
While not pointing any fingers, Turbe said he is aware that not all fishermen were enamored with the birds, which often defecated on the boats. "Hey, they do that on everybody’s boat," said Turbe. "The rain comes and washes it off. Everybody here likes the birds. The tourists always come over to watch me feed them."
According to the V.I. Code, anyone harming an endangered or indigenous species can be fined anywhere from $100 to up $10,000, and be sentenced to a jail term up to 60 days.
The code further states: "For the purpose of assessing the penalty, each specimen or an indigenous species, endangered or threatened animal or plant, or mangrove shall be considered a separate offence."
