DNR surveilled Sowinskis since the early 1990s
The Sowinski Files, Part 5: A 'tricky and dangerous' mission as DNR confronts man in his 70s, who showed them around
In the eyes of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, its wardens and special agents were carrying out a ticklish and precarious mission when they raided the Sugar Camp property of Paul and Alvin Sowinski with the assistance of 50 agents in May 2010.
They had been at it a long time, trying to nail the Sowinskis for illegal predator killing, having first placed surveillance cameras—and turning up nothing—on the Sowinski property in the early 1990s.
This time, law enforcement was going all out. On May 12, 2010, they executed seven federal search warrants related to suspected wildlife poisoning on the property.
That latest operation, based on tips, gossip and hearsay, again included a surveillance camera in the woods, but added new elements of self-described trickiness, including sending in an undercover agent to try and bait the Sowinskis themselves, planting dead animals and making fake animal tracks in the ground, not to mention the use of air and photo surveillance to locate suspected poison sites.
Here’s how DNR communications specialist Ed Culhane summarized a Jan. 13, 2014, DNR Northeast Regional Management Team meeting in an Office of Communication meeting-summary document:
“OC is working with USFWS (United States Fish & Wildlife Service) and the US Attorney’s office on a release regarding the legal case stemming from a DNR investigation into massive, horrendous wildlife poisoning in Oneida County,” Culhane wrote. “A tricky and dangerous piece of work by our wardens and our goal is to make sure DNR is properly credited.”
By now, the DNR has surely been credited with the operation, but just how massive was the wildlife poisoning?
Apparently not very. In the end, the approximately 50 agents helping in the operation that May day were more than the number of dead animals law enforcement had found in the previous three years of investigation, indeed in the previous 20 years of surveillance. And more yet than the number of poisoned animals.
How dangerous was it?
Apparently not very. The agents were greeted by suspect Alvin Sowinski, a potato farmer in his 70s, who showed them around and signed consent warrants for searches of other buildings, fields and woods.
In the end, Alvin and his son Paul each pleaded guilty to a single count of illegal possession of a bald eagle.
Branching out …