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After the bird was found limping in New Tampa, the nail in it was traced to a construction worker, officials say.
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 3, 2001
TAMPA -- Marshall Adams, who lives on Heron's Cove Place in a New Tampa subdivision, keeps a close eye on cranes.
About two weeks ago, Adams called state wildlife officers to report a sandhill crane limping around his neighborhood. It turns out that the 4-foot bird had been shot in its right leg with a nail gun.
"When I saw this, I went nuts," Adams said.
On Tuesday, authorities arrested Genaro Botello, 19, a construction worker from Wauchula, and charged him with wounding a threatened species, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Officials said Botello was working for a roofing and framing company, helping build a home in the neighborhood, said Gary Morse, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Acting on a tip, wildlife officers compared the nail in the bird's leg with the nails Botello used on the job, Morse said.
"We write citations all of the time, but it's rare to make this type of case," he said. "How do you track a nail down?"
Rescuers from the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores captured the grayish-brown bird Sept. 22. The crane had the nail in its leg and was weak from not eating. The bird is on antibiotics, and workers expect that its recovery will take at least another month.
"The prognosis is positive, but we always know that getting a handle on the infection can be difficult," said Barbara Suto, supervisor of the sanctuary's hospital.
The sanctuary rescued about 39 sandhill cranes last year and 33 in 1999. Many were hit by cars. On average, up to half are released back into the wild.
Sandhill cranes are threatened in Florida, but not endangered. Their numbers have dwindled in recent years as pastures have been plowed over for development. Many, however, can be seen walking along streets in the newer communities in New Tampa.
Morse said he couldn't explain anyone's motive for hurting a crane.
"Every once in a while, you get someone who decides to do something that's not in the best interest of wildlife," he said.
Botello was being held Tuesday in lieu of $2,500 bail at the Orient Road Jail.