Forwarded by Jane Clark, Des Moines
===================================================
DNR Fish and Wildlife Division
For Immediate Release April 29, 1999
For more information contact, Kristen Goldsmith, DNR information
specialist, at 515-281-6154.

LAW SIGNED INCREASING FINES FOR KILLING OR POSSESSING PROTECTED SWANS AND
CRANES

DES MOINES -- Citing the state's commitment to protecting Iowa's
environment, Gov. Thomas Vilsack signed a bill April 23, increasing the
penalty for killing or possessing protected swans and cranes. The bill
increases fines by 3000 percent, pushing the $50 penalty to $1500, which is
closer to the cost of replacement. Prior to the signing, swans and cranes
were not assigned a reimbursement value under the state's liquidated
damages law. Therefore, they were classified those birds or animals for
which damages are not otherwise prescribed, setting the liquidated damages
at $50.

Gov. Vilsack stated the bill was enacted into law in large part because of
the long-term care and the consistent efforts of some of Iowa's children,
their dedicated teacher and the outrage of an individual citizen. He went
on, telling of Linda Sherman and her fourth grade class from Roland-Story
Elementary. In the last seven years, the class has raised more than $27,000
to save endangered wetlands and animals in Iowa. They have adopted and
released a pair of trumpeter swans, adopted 100 acres of wetlands, made 25
duck houses and donated $1,600 to the Iowa State Wildlife Care Clinic. In
1997, the class wrote a letter to the editor of the Ames Tribune expressing
their anger and asking for higher fines for people that kill protected
species.  The fourth graders worked with Representative Cele Burnett to
begin drafting legislation, which was offered last year. Both the effort by
Representative Burnett and a separate attempt by Representative Donna
Barry, failed last year.

Gov. Vilsack also told of Lance Christensen, a private citizen who was
appalled by the illegal killing of waterfowl. He teamed up with Howard
Paul, the President of Ducks Unlimited to ask the Natural Resources
Commission, the DNR and the Legislature to change the Iowa code. Because of
their work, a bill was introduced this year by Senator Dennis Black, and
managed in the Senate by Senator Thurman Gaskill and in the House by
Representative Clel Baudler. Gov. Vilsack said, "The result is this
successful law".

"We cannot mark this occasion without noting the dedicated work of Ron
Andrews, head of the DNR‚s swan restoration project," said Gov. Vilsack. To
date, 175 swans have been released in Iowa under the program. Gov. Vilsack
also saluted the efforts of the ISU Trumpeter Swan Club, "and the
legislators who have the vision to enact this important environmental
protection into law."

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