Over Zealous Wildlife Enforcement?

[Sweetwater]

File under: "No good dead goes unpunished"

In the continuing saga of "birder-do gooders" failing to use common sense, a little girls' mother is fined over $500 and threatened with a year in prison for helping her 11 year old save a bird.

Report: Mom fined $535 after girl saves woodpecker - US news - Weird news - msnbc.com

Sure, it is illegal to transport an endangered species but the INTENT of the law is to prevent poaching and intentional disturbance (such as for profit by sending animals to private "zoos" etc.) of protect animals.

Clearly the wildlife official would have done everyone a greater service by simply explaining to the lady that however well intentioned her actions, they are illegal and not in the bird's best interest and let it go with that.

The concept of "what would a reasonable person do under similar circumstances?" applies to the mother and NOT to the wildlife officials.

[Sweetwater]

This followup from the CATO institute

Saving a Baby Woodpecker: The Legal Consequences | Cato @ Liberty

The fine was "rescinded" but just shows how such broad legal language allows over zealous government employees to trample over innocent citizens.

(John R, this probably belongs in Political).

[InTheHole]

I wonder what the fine would be for a 7 year old walking up and down the beach with a plover chick in his hands trying to return it to it's mom.
Not that I know anything about this or witnessed such an event.
Just hypothetically sayin ......