I have to agree with you guys. This is terrible behavior for a person that should know better. The sad reality is there will always be people that think they are entitled to do whatever it takes to get the shot. Sadly the wildlife has to be put in a traumatic situation. I had a similar thing happen to me a few years back at Conowingo. I had a good spot several miles down the path from the normal lookout area everyone goes to. I was watching an eagle eating its catch when a group of people tried to get close to it thinking they were in a petting zoo. Of course the eagle had enough and flew off. Really irritated me! I have eagles within walking distance from my house and very few people around, but I still really enjoy making the long drive to Conowingo to meet up with fellow eagle watchers. If everyone sticks together we can politely ask these individuals to stop or have the authorities run them off. As always, enjoy Conowingo and the beautiful eagles that make that such a fun place to visit.
I was at the dam yesterday as well and saw the guy. I was furious to say the least. However the regulars I spoke with said they spoke with the guards and that they couldn't or wouldn't do anything about it.
Now I must also comment on those on here hinting that we keep conowingo a secret.? That is almost as selfish as this man on the island. I take it upon my self to spread the word about this beautiful place every chance I get. I suppose next we should only allow a select few to enjoy our national parks as well?
Conowingo is an amazing place I just hope the person who chooses to go on the island wises up or he is going to have one angry mob on his hands this weekend
The following definition of ‘‘disturb’’ will be codified
in regulations at 50 CFR 22.3: ‘‘Disturb
means to agitate or bother a bald or
golden eagle to a degree that causes, or
is likely to cause, based on the best
scientific information available, (1)
injury to an eagle, (2) a decrease in its
productivity, by substantially interfering
with normal breeding, feeding, or
sheltering behavior, or (3) nest
abandonment, by substantially
interfering with normal breeding,
feeding, or sheltering behavior.’’
Yes, the gaurd was spoke to about this and the response was that there is nothing that says that you can't be on the island. I intend on going back tommorrow, I only hope that he is not there!
If you come on out tommorrow look for me and say hi!!! I am the ugly guy with the grey beard!
For everyone, including the man in violation. This comes directly from fws.gov's website about bald eagle protection: --- "Avoid recreational and commercial boating and fishing near eagle foraging areas during peak feeding times..."
-He was boating and disturbing bald eagles during feeding times. He needs to stop. I'm not sure he actually broke a law, but he needs to have common sense to stop what he's doing. I hope he reads this whole forum thread. Although, I truly believe you can't teach common sense.
Chris B. wrote:
A couple of things: first of all, this part of the Susquehanna is in Maryland, not PA and the Maryland DNR should have been made aware of the situation.
Second, the island is private property with no trespassing allowed. It belongs to Exelon Energy, which owns and operates Conowingo. Had their security been aware of this guy, they'd have taken their boat out there and arrested him.
And had they not wished to bother, they could have called the Department of Homeland Security which has enacted special regulations for sensitive areas such as hydro-electric dams...
This guy is not only insanely stupid but very lucky that he wasn't shot! ...Show more →
Chris is 100% correct!
Call the dam, sorry for the pun, police first then call Cecil County Sheriff. This area is restricted and private property!
I was there last year and 2 fishermen were on the island just fishing and they were retained by the dam's police and Cecil County Sheriff escorted them off the island post haste.
Yes a bummer!
But dont be discouraged..go again.
Dan
PS initial post some subject modified due to many requests by FM'ers to remove some text.
Update: We need photos of this guy, his car, license plate, and his kayak. And when he has been showing up and when he is actually there on the island.
MD DNR has now been made aware of the issue. And also MD Natural Resources Police. And also FWS. They will cooperate, but MD police say the issue of trespass needs to be started by Exelon. If we can get this guy while he is on the island, they will respond to us calling or to Exelon. Though they can't arrest him on the trespass based on us. That has to come from Exelon. I did find an officer who is a wildlife enthusiast and he agreed to snag the guy and "talk" with him. That might be at the very least a step toward getting this stopped asap.
Monday I expect to hear from a lawyer I know at Exelon and from one or two rangers I know with FWS. FWS will certainly follow thru with this if MD does not. But the best bet at the moment is the Sgt who is interested in helping and his officers.
If you're heading down there, the number to call is the Cecil County dispatch. That's where this Sgt is and they have more officers usually nearby than does Hartford county. So if you're going down there and want their phone number, send me a PM and I will get you his name and their dispatch number.
Good news! Lets put a stop to this nonsense. I can never understand why someone would want to get too close to the wildlife. I would rather have a missed opportunity or a crappy shot instead of stressing the wildlife.
Well this is disturbing. Iam down here now and will be there saturday and sunday. From Buffalo NY and would hate my once a year trip here to be ruined. Lets all call the police on him but we need the best number to call. I hope he isnt there saturday or sunday or ever again.
By reading the replys to your problem it now will be worse after reading there is nothing you can do about the guy going out to the island. I would of asked the guy to be more reasonable not to spoil it for everyone and do as you do. but now you may have made it worse now everyone who goes there may do the same thing. I may take others photographers that I know to my spots of eagles but will not tell others where they are located.
Do not mistake that there is nothing that can be done. The Federal regulations are pretty clear. And so is the endangered species act which carries a 100,000K fine and 1 year in jail.
By developing this contact with the MD State Police, we now have a direct way to get action taken. And now the state police will be expecting calls on this and know that it is worth taking action. Additionally, contacts that people have with either or both Exelon and FWS will help to assure this guy's behavior does not go "unrewarded".
The fact is that the more publicity he gets the more effective we are being at educating people in general and stopping this guy. There are few people who want to be caught doing things they know are wrong. The danger is that people keep quiet and let them get away with it.
So if you can help with this your help will be welcomed.
I go there a lot and have to travel to get there and this is very disturbing to me . Why would anyone be so inconsiderate and then to have people that have the authority to do something only to point fingers at each other . Guess they really dont care about photographers , only fishermen going past the boundary sign . Dont really believe in it but when I was a kid growing I heard the term vigilante justice . This is not the answer but is it any wonder it would enter ones mind
the MD DNR has been contacted reguarding this there are a number of people who have a number to call when he is out there again and DNR will respond right away
There is a MD DNR Law Enforcement emergency phone number to call to report Natural Resources violations:
