FWC Law Enforcement Report
From FWCThis report represents some events the FWC handled July 28 to Aug. 3. (There were no cases reported for Wakulla County or in the Northwest region.) These are cases from the North Central region:
CITRUS COUNTY
• Lieutenant Ransom, Officer Pietroburgo, and Officer Jovanov were conducting patrols near local scalloping areas over the weekend and observed four vessels operating above idle speed on plane within 300 feet of properly displayed diver down flags and scallopers in the water. All vessel operators were stopped and cited for the violations.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
• Senior Officer Davenport received a Wildlife Alert tip about a subject possessing a raccoon without a Class III permit. Once arriving at the residence, the officer observed a raccoon was observed trough the living room window. Officer Davenport met with the homeowner who stated the raccoon had been in his possession for nearly 1 1/2 years. When asked if he had purchased the raccoon from a licensed dealer, he said no and indicated some young boys brought it to him. The officer explained a Class III permit from the FWC was required to possess the raccoon. The homeowner signed the raccoon over to the FWC and it was taken to a rehabilitation facility in Lake City. A written warning was issued for possession of the raccoon without a Class III license.
• Officer Fanelli and Shope were on patrol in Osceola Wildlife Management Area when they located two individuals catching a hunting dog. The officers searched the immediate area and located deer tracks exiting the woods where multiple hunting dogs exited as well. Appropriate citations were issued for training deer hunting dogs during the closed season and hunting dogs not properly restrained in Osceola Wildlife Management Area during the closed season.
UNION COUNTY
• Officer Fanelli and Shope responded to a complaint regarding an individual in possession of a fawn. The officers responded to the residence and the homeowner admitted to possessing a fawn. Appropriate citations were issued.