THE FREE PRESS (Mankato, Minnesota) 12 July 07 Man accused of blowing up turtles - Is cited for illegal method of hunting (Dan Linehan)
A Janesville man is accused of shooting turtles with a shotgun, putting fireworks in the reptiles’ mouths and shells and then blowing them up.
Brett Flitter, 19, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after the July 3 incident in Lakeview Park on Lake Elysian, said Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Corey Wiebusch. For the turtle shooting, Flitter was cited for an illegal method of hunting turtles.
Wiebusch said he responded to a call of several young people shooting the turtles.
He cited Flitter for possessing drug paraphernalia, a petty misdemeanor. Wiebusch said Flitter had a small amount of marijuana but was not high.
Court records show Flitter owing $127 for the drug charge, and Wiebusch estimates that he’ll be charged about $72 for the turtle shooting.
“You hate to see those kinds of things happen,” he said.
It’s illegal to hunt turtles using explosives, drugs, poisons, lime and “other harmful substances,” according to Minnesota law.
While charges are ultimately up to prosecutors, Wiebusch didn’t recommend animal cruelty charges.
“I’ll be in contact with the Waseca County Attorney and see where he wants to go with it,” he said.
Wiebusch’s week wasn’t spent on turtle attacks.
He spent the Fourth of July in the Brainerd area, and rescued a pair of hapless jet-skiers whose machine skimmed riderless across the lake.
“We went and grabbed it for ‘em," he said of the ski.
Man accused of blowing up turtles