Awards: Charles V. Pulver Case of the Year (Kevin Downs)

Next up: the Charles V. Pulver Case of the Year Award. This award recognizes the importance and complexity of law enforcement in the conservation of our natural resources. Chuck Pulver was a district game warden for 20 years with the ND Game and Fish Department. In recognition of his contributions to law enforcement, the North Dakota case of the year award is presented in Chuck’s name.

This year's recipient is USFWS Special Agent Kevin Downs. Along with assistance from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, ND Department of Agriculture, EPA, Department of Justice, and other USFWS staff, Downs was part of the investigation and ultimately prosecution of the largest ever misapplication of an anticoagulant poison in the Dakotas. The investigation began in the spring of 2016 and officially closed in the spring of 2021. The quick recognition of environmental issues within the external boundaries of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Game and Fish Department officially opened this investigation with a dead eagle found in close proximity to a ranch that had recently distributed small green granules on top of the ground. Special Agent Downs was contacted for assistance who positively identified the small green granules to be an anticoagulant restricted use pesticide, designed to kill prairie dogs. The investigation discovered many of the manufacturer’s label restrictions were ignored which resulted in the death of at least six eagles and put the health of workers and other wildlife at risk.

While this was a complicated case, Downs was the person primarily responsible for the investigation which led to the federal convictions of two persons that plead guilty to violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

Thanks for all your work protecting our natural resources Kevin!