A federal magistrate judge in Des Moines has convicted a 19-year-old Huxley man of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after he intentionally struck and killed two Canada Geese with his pickup in March.
According to court records, Wyatt Christian Greenfield accelerated and swerved across both lanes of traffic near Ankeny to hit the geese. Canada Geese are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to intentionally kill, capture, or possess protected migratory birds without authorization.
Greenfield faces a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison, up to five years of probation, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $15,000. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
The case also serves as a reminder that many birds commonly found across southeast Iowa are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. That includes ducks and geese, cranes, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, doves, pelicans, herons, and most songbirds. While some species may be legally hunted during regulated seasons with the proper licenses, intentionally harming protected migratory birds outside those regulations is a violation of federal law.
The case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.