Investigation Underway Into Endangered Species Act Violation

Natural resource staff from the park’s Sandy Hook Unit discovered a piping plover nest that had been intentionally destroyed in the area north of Gunnison Beach last week. Piping plover are listed as federally threatened and protected under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act. The nest, with two eggs, was within an area posted with signs and symbolic fencing and protected by an electrified predator exclosure. The nest was observed being actively incubated the day before and the chicks were due to hatch within the next couple of days. Park staff found that the electric fence charger had been disconnected, that the predator exclosure had been pulled up off the nest, and that the eggs had been removed. Two sets of footprints led from the nearby recreational beach to the nest and then on to a second nest site with an exclosure. The plovers in the second nest, however, had already hatched. Sandy Hook protection rangers are investigating the incident along with a special agent from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A joint FWS-NPS $4,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.