We suspect many readers were shocked and even angry when they saw the lead story on Sunday's front page.
We don't blame them.
A woman who lives with her family on a ranch near DeKalb, Texas, told the Gazette about something horrible that happened recently on her land.
A friend notified the family that the remains of numerous dead animals were scattered on the property. All kinds of wildlife.
The woman called the state game wardens. An investigation disclosed that someone had placed feed corn laced with a strong poison on the family's land.
It seems a neighbor placed the poisoned corn on the land in an effort to control destructive wild hogs, though he did not have permission to do so. He may have placed the laced corn on other property owners' land as well.
The man pleaded guilty to two charges-the unlawful taking of migratory birds and the unlawful use of a pesticide. Both are misdemeanors. He will likely get probation.
It gets worse.
Because the poison used is so strong, a hazardous materials disposal team had to be called in to clean up the site. And the bill-several thousand dollars-was paid not by the perpetrator, but by the landowners.
Justice? No way.
Apparently the law can only do so much in such cases. That means it is up to the state Legislature to get on the ball and increase penalties for illegal use of poison, especially on other people's land. And certainly when large numbers of animals are killed. It's something state Sen. Bryan Hughes and state Rep. Gary VanDeaver, who represent DeKalb and all of Bowie County, should look into.
But any increase in penalties will be too late for the DeKalb-area landowners who saw wildlife recklessly destroyed and had their property and pocketbooks damaged. Any remedy for them will have to come from the civil, not criminal, courts.
