Old Lyme and Groton Piping Plover Incidents to Be Federally Investigated

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is looking into incidents involving three federally threatened piping plovers in Old Lyme and destruction of an egg in Groton, as reported by The Day.

At Griswold Point in Old Lyme, biologists suspect the plovers’ deaths may resulted from people ignoring signs at nesting points and roped off areas. These are especially serious and somewhat disturbing incidents as adult birds usually have a way of defending themselves.

The egg lost at Bluff Point in Groton can be attributed to people having a party within a roped off nest area, wherein one person stepped on and crushed an egg, The Day reported. Penalties could include $25,000 and/or six months in jail if an individual is found guilty on criminal charges or $1,000 if the act is deemed unintentional.

Read the full story and at The Day.