Gilroy man fined, put on probation for poaching

There's poaching, then there's Peter Ignatius Ciraulo.

The 42-year-old Gilroy man was the subject of a wildlife poaching case the California's Department of Fish and Game termed "extraordinary."

Ciraulo had been under investigation by the department's law enforcement officers, who made their move at the end of the state waterfowl season last January.  Game wardens Kyle Kroll and Greg Grinton approached Ciraulo and discovered he had killed a swan, which is protected under California law, as well as eight geese. In addition, Ciraulo had several goose breasts concealed in his jacket.

That was just the start. Kroll and Grinton discovered "hundreds" of birds stashed in freezers at Ciraulo's home. According to the Department of Fish and Game, "The dead birds included specimens of almost every waterfowl species that migrates into California, but also included many non-game, protected species." Included in the cache was a Sandhill Crane.

In addition to 335 dead birds, game wardens also found seven live and crippled snow geese.

"Not since the market poaching days of the early 1900s have we seen waterfowl poaching of this scope," said Nancy Foley, chief of the department's Law Enforcement Division.

Ciraulo pleaded no contest to three violations: possession of waterfowl over the limit, failure to declare a migratory game bird, and failure to show game to a warden upon demand. The state limits are 14 ducks and eight geese.

And what was the punishment for this wildlife crime of the century?

Two years probation, a $7,105 fine and 100 hours of community service. Oh, and he's banned from hunting in California for one year.

-- Julie Cart

Photo: A sandhill crane wades in Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Credit: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[JP Puette]

You do the public a disservice to believe what Kyle Crow said about Peter Ciraulo. Peter has licenses and permits from many states and a couple of other countries that cover every bird in his possession. His only crime was that he did not know he must fill out a CA form that would have allowed him to import birds into the state.

Clearly professional journalism has given way to sucking up to liberal politics and scandalmongering.

[Peter Carlton]

Should have served time. Having murdered hundreds of animals. Barbaric.

[sheila]

what the hell is wrong with this guy? there is no way he was poaching for food, with 350 dead birds in his freezer, several crippled on his property, and more body parts in his jacket. he sounds like a psychopath on his way to becoming a serial killer. he should be involuntarily committed.

[Ethical hunter]

Mr. Puette, I know you and Pete Ciraulo very well. You are gravely mistaken that Pete had the legal right to possess those birds, for several reasons. Not to mention his unethical hunting/harvesting practices.

He is a POACHER, bottom line. Only a few of the birds were processed for consumption, crippled geese were made to suffer without veterinary care because he wanted to keep them alive in his private pond. These were wild geese that he had a permit to harvest for consumption; not a permit to create a personal illegal aviary. I know you hunt as well, don’t you find this ethical?

As far as the number of birds harvested, 300+ FULL BODIED (intestines & feathers still intact) birds frozen is an obscene amount of birds abusing the privilege many hunters take seriously. I have heard him brag and show photos of over procession hunts.

I am very well aware of his hunting adventures and let me be the first to tell you. Many, many, people do not respect him as a person or a hunter. I strongly suggest you revisit where you put your allegiance and for whom you vouch credibility. Peter Ciraulo is a criminal who got off way to easy.

[missmsry]

Why in hell would anyone need to kill a Sandhill Crane? How long before Ciraulo decides he needs a frozen Whooping Crane? Or a frozen Condor? This man needs to be prevented from hunting anywhere in the world, for the rest of his life.

[Mallard Machine]

This guy is exactly what we hunters and conservationist do not need. I think he got off WAY to easy and should have lost his hunting privileges for life.

There is a way to do this and everyone needs to write in to the California Fish and Game asking that his privileges be revoked. The courts have spoken but the fish and game commission can act independently on this as well.

In addition, you can write to your state representatives, the governor and local papers voicing your opinion of penalties or lack of penalties levied against a crime of this magnitude.

Please do not make this an anti-hunting witch-hunt. There are many of us who donate hundreds of hours every year creating and maintaining wetlands and natural habitat for waterfowl and upland game. Please do not punish us all for the actions of this one individual; he is the exception not the rule.

I am a conservationist and hunter. I respect the privileges I have being able to enjoy nature. I also respect the way others enjoy nature. We can all co-exist; however, a guy like this Peter I. Ciraulo does not have a place when he abuses privileges we all work so very hard to keep.