It is a Federal offense to protect the protected species. A little 11 years old girl from Virginia had to learn this the hard way. Young Skylar Capo never realize that her act of saving a baby Woodpecker from a cat could end up in a $535 fine for breaking the Federal Migratory Bird Act!
Apparently, after she managed to save the baby bird from a hungry cat and the bird's mother was nowhere in sight, little girl managed to convince her mother to let her care for a baby woodpecker until it was well enough to fly on its own.
Two weeks later, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed up at Capo's front door accompanied by an armed Virginia State Police trooper. I guess that coming alone would not be scary enough. 11-year-old girls can be dangerous sometimes, especially when being told that her noble act resulted in mommy losing more than $500!
I have to say that the Virginia State Police behaved honorably throughout entire incident. The trooper just stood on the porch and said nothing. They had to show up since US Fish and Wildlife agent requested their presence. Also, The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries did not take part in this.
I don't know why but when I read about something like this I remember the words of US Declaration of Independence that King George III "erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance."
Welcome to the New World Order. Federal agencies in the United States have extraordinary power. They can seize your assets, freeze your bank accounts, intercept your emails… all without any a court order or reasonable form of oversight...