state game warden threatening to euthanize woman's raven [View all]

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Bird lover laments loss of her ravens and crows

Wildlife officials say a Palmdale woman violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 by keeping more than 20 blind or injured crows and ravens in elaborate aviaries inside and behind her house.

When is Edgar likely to return to his Palmdale home to live out the remaining 25 or so years of his life? Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

At least that's what state and federal wildlife officials have told Debby Porter about the future of the black raven named after poet Edgar Allan Poe that she raised by hand at her Antelope Valley home.

Wildlife officials say Porter violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 by keeping Edgar and 20 other blind or injured crows and ravens in elaborate aviaries inside and behind her house. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents seized the birds in the outdoor aviary Aug. 29 but left Edgar behind because he is an African pied-crow and brown-necked raven hybrid, not a North American migratory bird.

But shortly after, Porter says, a state Department of Fish and Game warden ordered her to hand over Edgar as well because she lacks the proper permit to keep him.

Instead of turning Edgar in, Porter sent him into hiding.

"The state game warden threatened me with a misdemeanor citation and said Edgar would have to be euthanized," Porter said. "A misdemeanor doesn't mean that much to me, but I don't want Edgar euthanized."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banned-raven-20121216,0,2206321.story