During the month of June, it is extremely rare to find agents from Region 8 working anywhere other than the tidal marshes surrounding the Big Easy.  Naturally, this time of the year we are focused on boating safety and the commercial fishing industry.  On June 12, 2001, this was not the case for Agents Mike Ethridge, Kris Bourgeois, Billy Vosbein and me, Agent Eddie Skena.  We were called on by Capt. Sandy Dares to work, along with Biologist Emile Lablanc, two complaints of captive deer in the cities of Kenner and New Orleans. 

                Agent Bourgeois, Agent Vosbein, and Biologist Leblanc headed to New Orleans while Agent Etheridge and I went to follow up on the Kenner complaint.  The New Orleans team found a subject in possession of a live spike buck which he had locked up in a horse stable.  It is still not certain how the subject came to be in possession of the deer, because he gave the agents two very conflicting stories.  First, he claimed that he found the deer swimming close to the Gulf of Mexico.  Later, he stated that he was on a tractor in a field where he found the deer lying on the ground.  Whichever story was actually the truth does not change the fact that it is illegal for the subject to be in possession of a live deer.  Therefore, while Emile Lablanc was preparing the deer for transport, the agents charged the man with illegal possession of a live deer.

                When Mike and I arrived at the address of the Kenner complaint, we found a subject to be in possession of a live spotted fawn.  We found the deer in her living room when we entered the house.  The woman told us that she found the deer on the side of the highway and she took it home.  She was also charged with the illegal possession of a live deer.

                So, what will be the fate of these two young deer?  The Natural Heritage section of the Department issues permits to those with acceptable facilities and medical accommodations to become licensed wildlife rehabilitators.  These two deer were taken to such a facility where a licensed rehabilitator will nurse them back to good health.  Once the deer are able to survive on their own, they will be released into the wild.

                These two cases show just how valuable information from the public can be.   The agents from Region 8, along with the rest of the state, would like to encourage everyone to participate in our Operation Game Thief program.  This program allows anyone to call a toll free number and report any information about illegal activity.  All information will be followed up on, and the caller will always remain anonymous.  The toll free number for Operation Game Thief is 1-800-442-2511.