U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha says a Portsmouth man has been sentenced to six months of federal probation after admitting that he shot protected hawks on and around his property.
Sixty-five-year-old Robert Ferreira violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and was charged with four misdemeanor counts.
Ferreira told the judge that between October of 2018 and April of 2021, he used an air rifle to injure three Red-Tailed hawks and a Cooper's hawk.
Officials say eight injured or dead hawks were recovered from his property.
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)