State officials announced in Albany yesterday the arrest of 23 people -- including an unidentified Genesee County man -- for allegedly dealing illegally in New York native species.
The group of people were allegedly capturing and selling native rattlesnakes, salamanders and turtles.
"We were addressing what was becoming a mammoth industry in New York, and that was the illegal trade in New York reptiles," said Thomas, a law enforcement lieutenant at DEC's regional headquarters in Avon, Livingston County.
Thomas said that reptiles and amphibians should be valued and protected as bedrock species in their ecosystems that consume insects and small mammals perceived as pests, and in turn being consumed by larger animals.
UPDATE: The D&C's version of the story includes this information:
Among those charged with misdemeanor counts were Kenneth R. Howard Jr., 53, of Oakfield, Genesee County, and Michael J. Loveless, 58, of Machias, Cattaraugus County. Both men are accused of illegally trapping snapping turtles and selling them in Maryland for meat.
