Illegal Foxes and Coyotes Result in 12 Arrests

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched a 10-month investigation into illegal purchase and possession of foxes and coyotes, and today announced 12 arrests, including people from the First Coast, and 46 citations.

At issue are privately owned enclosures, generally over several hundred acres, that house foxes and coyotes.

Typically, the owners of the enclosures allow paying customers to bring their dogs in to chase  other animals.

The possession and purchase of foxes and coyotes are highly regulated, and permits are required to have such enclosures and animals.

Only six enclosures statewide are permitted.

"Over the past year, we have received numerous complaints regarding the enclosures," said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.  "This investigation is something we will weigh when we make decisions about the future operation of these enclosures."

Undercover FWC officers posed as suppliers of foxes and coyotes that were illegally possessed, and told the suspects they had no permits. That did not deter the suspects.

The officers investigated 12 enclosures, and found that eight were involved in illegal activity.

Two of those had permits, but the suspects made illegal purchases. The other six had no permits at all.

The three men from our area who were arrested are:

• James Edward Spradley, 66, from Columbia County
  Charged with purchase of fox/coyote from an unpermitted person, possession of Class II animal (coyote) without a permit
• Ronald Cercy, 26, from Clay County
  Charged with purchase of fox/coyote from an unpermitted person, possession of Class II animal (coyote) without a permit, unlawful possession of fox, possession of Class III animal (fox) without a permit, purchase of fox unlawfully taken from Florida
• Tommy Lewis, 71, from Putnam County
  Charged with purchase of fox/coyote from an unpermitted person, possession of Class II animal (coyote) without a permit, unlawful possession of fox, possession of Class III animal (fox) without a permit, purchase of fox unlawfully taken from Florida

"I would like to commend our FWC officers for a job well done," Barreto said.  "The difficult and often dangerous work these officers completed shows clearly that some individuals operate outside the boundaries of the law, and they are now facing charges."

As the first result of the investigation, in September, the FWC enacted a moratorium on further permits for the enclosures.

Before the moratorium, the requirements for the enclosures included a minimum of 100 acres, fence height requirements and areas for foxes and coyotes to escape from dogs. Also, all animals must be vaccinated and kept in a safe, sanitary and humane manner.

The owners need to have valid paperwork on all animals, because the FWC can inspect them unannounced.

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