July 23, 2010
Conservationist pleads guilty to trapping
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) – The leader of a prominent conservation group has pleaded guilty to illegally trapping porcupines and burning brush piles in Grand Teton National Park.
Murie Center executive director Steve Duerr pleaded guilty Thursday to three misdemeanors – illegal use of a trap, attempted illegal taking of wildlife and setting fire in an undesignated area. He was fined $250 for each offense.
The center is located in the national park. Duerr told a federal magistrate he used poor judgment in acting to take care of brush piles park officials had failed to remove and in setting traps for porcupines that were chewing on the screen doors of guest cabins.
Duerr said he put metal on the doors to protect them but the porcupines scratched on the panels, waking guests up.