Macomb Township Man Fined For Shooting, Killing Protected Hawks: DNR

MACOMB TOWNSHIP, MI — A Macomb Township man was fined nearly $5,000 after shooting and killing three young Cooper’s hawks out of a tree earlier this year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said.

Arthur Anderson, 65, pleaded no contest in a Shelby Township courtroom and owes $4,500 ($1,500 per bird) to the state and $475 in other fines and costs. He will be placed on probation for six months.

"The Michigan Department of Natural Resources greatly appreciates the court system’s support in this case," DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Dave Shaw said. "All birds of prey are protected at both the state and federal level and are an important and enjoyable part of Michigan’s natural environment."

Anderson hired a utility company to cut down some trees on his property in June, but the workers refused to cut down one of the trees after finding a nest of young Cooper's hawks, according to the DNR.

Anderson then grabbed a shotgun from his house and shot the nest at least five times, killing three hawks as they fell to the ground, according to the DNR.

An anonymous tip was reported to the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline. Conservation Officer Brad Silorey received the anonymous tip, according to the DNR.

COs Sydney Griffor, Chris Knights and Sgt. Seth Rhodea met Silorey at Anderson’s Macomb Township home, where they interviewed him and collected evidence, according to the DNR.

At first, Anderson said he was shooting nuisance squirrels, but eventually told officials that he was angry the utility company wouldn’t remove the tree because of the nest, according to the DNR. Officials also said they took the shotgun he used to shoot the birds at that time.