A pair of poachers from California made a crucial mistake while traveling — openly discussing their illegal hunting activities in front of undercover wildlife officers. Their carelessness led to a criminal investigation and multiple convictions.
Byron Lee Fitzpatrick, 24, and Shannon Lee Price, 28, were on a flight to California in November 2023 when they began sharing details about their illegal collection of animal trophies. They described smuggling a green sea turtle skull, illegally hunting a mountain lion and possessing various taxidermy items.
The two officers seated near them, members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, listened as Fitzpatrick and Price casually admitted to violating state and federal wildlife laws. Even after the officers identified themselves, the couple continued talking and even showed a video of a relative’s collection of mounted animals, which included protected species like mountain lions, wolves and a wolverine.
After landing, the officers asked to see the turtle skull. The couple, cautious of TSA agents, hesitated before revealing the item. This was enough to secure search warrants for their home in Chico, California, and the home of 64-year-old Harry Vern Fitzpatrick in Napa County.
Authorities raided both properties, discovering extensive evidence of poaching. At the couple’s home, officers found them processing an illegally taken deer. They also uncovered mountain lion claws, a barn owl and a ringtail cat. At the elder Fitzpatrick’s residence, officers confiscated a wolverine and multiple mounted mountain lions.
In April 2024, Fitzpatrick and Price pleaded guilty in federal court and were fined $1,000 each. In a separate case, Fitzpatrick was fined $1,865 and banned from hunting for a year, while Price received a $1,015 fine and the same restriction. The senior Fitzpatrick was fined $605 and placed on six months probation.
Officials emphasized that illegal wildlife trade remains a serious issue, often fueling criminal networks beyond U.S. borders.
