DARLINGTON - An Illinois man has pleaded guilty to illegally using bait contaminated with poison, causing the deaths of pet dogs and several wild animals in rural Shullsburg.
Robert N. Delaney, 41, Oak Park, was fined $186 and $840 in restitution to owners of three Great Pyrenees (sheep dogs) and associated medical bills. The deaths occurred in September 2007.
Delaney, after several months of negotiations with Lafayette County District Attorney Charlotte Doherty, was convicted of failing to secure pesticides so as to prevent serious injury to wildlife.
Wisconsin DNR conservation warden Jeff King led the investigation into the dog deaths, which later expanded to include the deaths of a skunk and possum.
During the probe, King learned that Delaney, who owns a farmette in rural Shullsburg next to the dogs' owners, was setting out Golden Malrin, fly bait sold at many agricultural and hardware stores, mixed with table scraps and soda.
The active ingredient in Malrin, a legal product when used to kill flies, is a chemical called methomyl, which is a highly toxic pesticide.
"There's no doubt this stuff is toxic," King said. "Product labels warn to keep it away from children. It is harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin."
Trays of the toxic mixture were seized from various locations on Delaney's property. In one instance, the mixture was on the property line with the dog owners.
The state Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison confirmed the poison in the trays was methomyl.
King said on another occasion, Delaney baited his property with poison, killing at least two fur-bearing wild animals as evidenced by their carcasses found within just feet of the bait.
"In my experience, the animal that consumes this toxic brew rarely gets far from the poison before it drops dead," King said. "Another side-effect from this activity is the aftermath in that any bird of prey, predator or even a dog that comes along and eats the carcass of the poisoned animal can die, too."
Farmers have long used Malrin to kill flies in the barn, but in recent years the DNR has investigated reports of persons in southwest Wisconsin using a fly bait/soda mixture to kill bothersome raccoon, skunk and possum.
In March 2007, a rural Argyle man was ordered to pay a $186 forfeiture for placing the same poison out in a field to kill raccoons.
"This case makes it clear why it's illegal to mix fly bait with other substances," King said. "Placing such a poison out where any animal can get to it is very dangerous."
Robert N. Delaney, 41, Oak Park, was fined $186 and $840 in restitution to owners of three Great Pyrenees (sheep dogs) and associated medical bills. The deaths occurred in September 2007.
Delaney, after several months of negotiations with Lafayette County District Attorney Charlotte Doherty, was convicted of failing to secure pesticides so as to prevent serious injury to wildlife.
Wisconsin DNR conservation warden Jeff King led the investigation into the dog deaths, which later expanded to include the deaths of a skunk and possum.
During the probe, King learned that Delaney, who owns a farmette in rural Shullsburg next to the dogs' owners, was setting out Golden Malrin, fly bait sold at many agricultural and hardware stores, mixed with table scraps and soda.
The active ingredient in Malrin, a legal product when used to kill flies, is a chemical called methomyl, which is a highly toxic pesticide.
"There's no doubt this stuff is toxic," King said. "Product labels warn to keep it away from children. It is harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin."
Trays of the toxic mixture were seized from various locations on Delaney's property. In one instance, the mixture was on the property line with the dog owners.
The state Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison confirmed the poison in the trays was methomyl.
King said on another occasion, Delaney baited his property with poison, killing at least two fur-bearing wild animals as evidenced by their carcasses found within just feet of the bait.
"In my experience, the animal that consumes this toxic brew rarely gets far from the poison before it drops dead," King said. "Another side-effect from this activity is the aftermath in that any bird of prey, predator or even a dog that comes along and eats the carcass of the poisoned animal can die, too."
Farmers have long used Malrin to kill flies in the barn, but in recent years the DNR has investigated reports of persons in southwest Wisconsin using a fly bait/soda mixture to kill bothersome raccoon, skunk and possum.
In March 2007, a rural Argyle man was ordered to pay a $186 forfeiture for placing the same poison out in a field to kill raccoons.
"This case makes it clear why it's illegal to mix fly bait with other substances," King said. "Placing such a poison out where any animal can get to it is very dangerous."