Florida man caught killing, and eating, threatened tortoises

[n2doc]

Wildlife authorities in Florida caught a man who killed and ate 15 gopher tortoises and planned to slaughter 11 more of the threatened reptiles, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said a tip-off led an officer to woods in Citrus County on Florida's west coast where he found tire tracks and shells dumped on the ground. Returning the next day, he found a container holding 11 live gopher tortoises.

"He hid himself and waited, figuring the subject would return that afternoon," the FWC said in a statement, adding that when the man came back he admitted to feasting on the threatened species.

Katie Purcell, a spokeswoman for the FWC's law enforcement division, said prosecutors were preparing appropriate charges. The 11 tortoises were set free.

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http://www.newseveryday.com/articles/717/20140828/florida-man-caught-killing-and-eating-threatened-tortoises.htm

[Lochloosa]

1. We'll , they are tasty.

[Egnever]

2. Need more info

if the man is eating them is it because he cant afford food?

I would have a hard time finding a man guilty of just trying to feed himself.

If he is doing it just because he likes the taste that is something else entirely.

[pipoman]

3. If he is using a gun to kill tortoises in the woods

He probably could have found a non-endangered species...and it probably would have more meat and easier to get to. Sounds more like some crazy idea they would make him potent again or some such...