Arnaudville man cited for poisoning wildlife

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents say an Arnaudville man, on May 6, illegally poisoned a coyote, eight vultures and three opossums in St. Martin Parish.
Agents cited Laurant W. Taylor, 71, for intentional concealment of wildlife, taking non-game birds illegally, taking non-game quadrupeds illegally and taking opossums illegally.
Agents began investigating Taylor when they received a complaint about dead birds that appeared to be poisoned along Mike LeBlanc Road. Upon investigating the complaint, the investigators noticed parts of a pig carcass with a suspicious white coating spread along the road and shoulder. The agents also located five dead vultures and two dead opossums a short distance from the pig parts.
After collecting the dead animals and pig parts for evidence, the agents came into contact with Taylor who was driving his vehicle on the road. They learned that Taylor farmed and hunted most of the surrounding areas.
On April 4 agents returned to the scene and found another three dead vultures, two dead opossums and another scattering of pig parts.
On April 7 agents learned that the chemical found on the pig parts and the dead wildlife was carbofuran.
The agents said they confronted Taylor with the evidence of carbofuran on April 23 and he admitted to lacing the pig parts with the chemical and spreading the parts out on the road to kill coyotes. He said the area where he spread the poison was where he commonly hunted rabbits. Taylor also admitted to finding and removing a dead coyote near the poisoned bait, agents said.
Intentional concealment of wildlife brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Illegally taking non-game quadrupeds and non-game birds each brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days for each offense. Illegally taking opossums brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
Taylor also faces a total of $139.28 in civil restitution for the illegally killed animals.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Ryan Faul, Sgt. Brian Theriot, Senior Agent Cullom Schexnyder, Senior Agent Jason Sanchez and Agent Andrew Arton.