A Portsmouth resident, Robert J. Ferreira, has been sentenced to six months of federal probation for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
The court was informed that between October 2018 and April 2021, eight hawks were found injured or dead near Ferreira's property. Ammunition from three of these hawks matched an air rifle owned by Ferreira.
Ferreira appeared in federal court in Providence and admitted to using his air rifle to harm three Red-Tailed hawks and a Cooper’s hawk from October 23, 2018, to March 18, 2019. He pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges related to hunting or attempting to hunt migratory birds.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects certain species of migratory birds, including the Red-Tailed hawk and Cooper’s hawk, prohibiting their hunting or killing without a permit.
Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond handed down the sentence on Thursday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton prosecuted the case with help from Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Lowell. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Law Enforcement.