Whooping Crane Crime: Investigating the Deaths

Nick Zahniser

The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America with only around 500 of the species populating the entire continent. They are also protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as well as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).  

Whooping Crane Investigation in Oklahoma 

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reported on Dec. 15 that four separate whooping cranes were found dead around the Tom Steed Lake area. Both Oklahoma and Texas officials, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, were called to the scene after the first whooping crane died on its way to the veterinary clinic.  

The crime occurred during the height of Oklahoma’s sandhill crane hunting season, which runs from Oct. 23 to Jan. 23. In previous sandhill crane seasons, the state has closed hunting for whooping crane sightings and migration as per The Oklahoman. The event comes as an unfortunate shock to state authorities, who work to protect the species.  

The Penalty for Killing Whooping Cranes

Killing one of these endangered birds carries a consequence of up to one year in prison and a potential $100,000 fine under the ESA as well as an additional sentence of up to six months in prison and a potential $15,000 fine under the MBTA according to KGOU. KGOU also reported the death of a bald eagle found on the same day in Atoka County, OK.  

“This is sickening to see such a wanton waste of wildlife, and our game wardens are very eager to visit with the individual or individuals who committed this crime,” said Wade Farrar, assistant chief of law enforcement with the wildlife department in a statement to the press.  

It is unclear whether this was a hunting trip gone wrong or a deliberate act of poaching for the sake of just shooting something. Sandhill cranes and whooping cranes can be difficult to distinguish mid-flight as they are of the same family. The only distinguishable difference is that sandhill cranes are slightly smaller and appear grayer with slightly darker wingtips as per Friends of the Wild Whoopers, leading authorities to believe it may have been a situation of misidentification. Investigations are ongoing.  

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Read more stories about the whooping crane and other birds on iSportsmanUSA.

Photo Courtesy of amberlangeloni — Pixabay.