Wildlife Crimes: From Florida Eagle Nest Stunt to Turtle Trafficking, Cockfights, and Pollution Charges Rock Multiple States

Florida Man Fined $50 for Attempting to Topple Eagle’s Nest During Storm

A Florida man was ordered to pay a $50 fine and $10,000 in voluntary restitution after pleading guilty to attempting to destroy an active bald eagle nest, federal court records show.

Denver Miller was sentenced on January 21, 2026, in the Middle District of Florida for a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. According to court documents, Miller pleaded guilty to attempting to take a bald eagle nest in October 2024.

Prosecutors said Miller attempted to partially cut down a tree containing an eagle nest during a storm, hoping the high winds would complete the work and bring the structure to the ground. The tree, however, remained standing despite Miller’s efforts.

In addition to the nominal $50 fine, Miller paid $10,000 in voluntary restitution to The Audubon Society Eagle Watch Program, a conservation initiative dedicated to monitoring and protecting eagle populations in the region.

The charge stemmed from Title 16, Section 668 of the U.S. Code, which prohibits the taking, possession, or destruction of bald or golden eagles or their nests without a permit.

Louisiana Man Accused of Polluting Nation’s Largest Urban Wildlife Refuge, Trial Set for May

Federal prosecutors have charged a Louisiana man with dumping pollutants into Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, causing damage to the sprawling 30,000-acre wetland ecosystem on the edge of New Orleans, court records show.

Bryant Brown was charged on February 12, 2026, in the Eastern District of Louisiana with depredation of government property and violating the Clean Water Act. His trial is scheduled to begin May 4, 2026.

According to the charging documents, Brown discharged pollutants into the refuge between March and June 2025, resulting in more than $1,000 worth of property damage to the federally protected land. The specific nature of the pollutants was not detailed in the initial court filing.

Bayou Sauvage, located within the city limits of New Orleans, is recognized as the largest urban wildlife refuge in the United States. The refuge encompasses nearly 30,000 acres of critical freshwater and brackish marsh habitat that serves as a buffer against storm surge and provides sanctuary for hundreds of bird species, alligators, and other wildlife.

The charges fall under Title 18 U.S.C. § 1361 for destruction of government property and Title 33 U.S.C. § 1319(c)(2)(A), which addresses negligent violations of the Clean Water Act’s pollutant discharge provisions.