A Michigan man accused of several wildlife violations, including the poaching of 18 gray wolves, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail as part of a plea agreement.
Kurt Johnston Duncan, 56, also will lose hunting and trapping privileges permanently in Michigan and all 48 states that are members of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Duncan, of Pickford, pleaded guilty on Sept. 24 to seven crimes, including three counts of illegal take and the possession of wolves; three counts of illegal take and possession of bald eagles, and one count of illegal commercialization of a protected species (wolf).
Additionally, Chippewa County District Court Judge Eric Blubaugh sentenced Duncan to pay $27,000 as reimbursement for the animals he killed, and $9,240 in court fees.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources described the case as “historical” for the agency and state in a news release issued Wednesday.
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Gary Hagler, Chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division, added: “We hope this poaching case acts as a deterrent to criminals for committing future wildlife crimes such as this.
“Our officers did an excellent job working as a team and building this investigation so it could move quickly through the criminal justice system.”
The months-long investigation of Duncan identified 125 wildlife misdemeanor crimes involving other animals, including deer, bobcat, and turkeys.
Duncan was ordered to forfeit all items, including firearms and snares, seized during the execution of search warrants.
–Generic gray wolf images are courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service