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Hundreds of Snow Geese illegally killed in Berks County

READING, Pa. — Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that charges have been filed against five individuals for killing 265 snow ge...
SE_Snow_Geese
SE_Snow_Geese

 

READING, Pa. — Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that charges have been filed against five individuals for killing 265 snow geese over the permitted limit in Marion Township, Berks County.

Citations were filed by Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Brian Sheetz before Magisterial District Judge Gail Greth, Fleetwood.

Norman Brubaker, 30, of Bernville, was charged with one count of hunting without a migratory bird license, one count of a violation involving federal laws and 73 counts of unlawful taking and possession of snow geese. Total fines and replacement costs could reach $14,990.

Laverne Frey, 34, of Womelsdorf, was charged with one count of a violation involving federal laws and 48 counts of unlawful taking and possession of snow geese. Total fines and replacement costs could reach $10,040.

Nevin Frey, 28, of Myerstown, was charged with one count of a violation involving federal laws and 48 counts of unlawful taking and possession of snow geese. Total fines and replacement costs could reach $10,040.

Kenneth Oberholtzer, 26, of Womelsdorf, was charged with one count of a violation involving federal laws and 48 counts of unlawful taking and possession of snow geese. Total fines and replacement costs could reach $10,040.

Nelson Sensenig, 25, of Lebanon, was charged with one count of a violation involving federal laws and 48 counts of unlawful taking and possession of snow geese. Total fines and replacement costs could reach $10,040.

WCO Sheetz, along with WCO Dave Brockmeier and Deputy WCO Ed Shutter, received information about a lot of shooting the morning of April 1 in the area of Church Road, Myerstown. The officers responded to the scene and found evidence that a large number of snow geese had been shot. Through their investigation, it was learned that the five defendants had killed 365 snow geese. The daily bag limit for snow geese is 25. Since Brubaker also did not possess the required migratory bird license, he was not permitted to harvest any snow geese.

After the birds were gathered and evidence was collected, agency officials transported the carcasses to a processor and then donated 288 pounds of goose meat to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Harrisburg.  The cost of processing was added to the defendant’s fines.

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