135 Whooping Crane Shootings with Emily Long – Oklahoma In late 2021, members of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation responded to a report that would lead to a nearly two-year, multi-departmental investigation into the shooting deaths of four whooping cranes, one of the rarest and most endangered birds in North America. In this episode, Wildlife Investigations Specialist Emily Long, whose dedication and meticulous work on this case earned her the title of 2024 IWC Game Warden of the Year, details the story.Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line PodcastDon Noyes ChevroletNorth American Game Warden MuseumSovereign Sportsman Solutions“A Cowboy in the Woods” BookHunt of a LifetimeMaine's Operation Game ThiefWildlife Heritage Foundation of NHInternational Wildlife CrimestoppersHere’s what we discuss:Sole full-time investigator in OklahomaNew positions created to investigate both state and federal wildlife crimesJointly funded by both state and federal departmentsFewer than 600 whooping cranes left worldwideOK closes hunting when advised by USGS that cranes are migratingLocal wardens respond to a call about an injured whooping craneThe wounded bird is rescued, but does not surviveDays later, a stationary tracking device is detected nearbyGame wardens discover the crime sceneInvestigation reveals three more deceased cranesPainstakingly searching thousands of cell tower recordsSuspects are slowly eliminatedGeolocation data finally offers a breakThe first confession exposes four suspectsPotentially accidental shootings lead to intentional coverupCharges are brought under the Migratory Bird Treaty ActAll four men plead guiltyA collective total of $71,000 in finesMultiple agencies at all levels collaborated to bring the case to a successful conclusionCreditsHosts: Wayne Saunders and John NoresProducer: Jay AmmannWarden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley HannettResearch / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRochesSubscribe:Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazonGoogleWaypointStitcherTuneInMegaphoneFind More Here:WebsiteWarden’s Watch / TGL StoreFacebookFacebook Fan PageInstagramThreadsYouTubeRSSLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices