Florida, you never disappoint us. Yesterday The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the end of a 19-month-long investigation that brought down a flying squirrel trafficking ring. You read that correctly.
The group and their work spanned across the country and even into Asia. Back in 2019 the FWC was tipped off about illegal flying squirrel trappings happening in Marion County, and that's when the investigation started. The flying furry creatures, which are protected in Florida, were being sold to a wildlife dealer who then re-sold them as pets.
The elaborate operation saw people flying in to Florida from Korea, driving to Chicago, and then flying back to Asia with the squirrels.
It's believed the ring caught up to 3,600 squirrels in less than three years, and set as many as 1,000 traps. And it wasn't just flying squirrels being sold, turtles and alligators were involved as well!
The FWC estimates the value of the poached wildlife is more than $1 million. Wow! So far seven people have been arrested, and more are on the way.
You can click here to see some of the mugshots. They look like squirrel poachers. What in the Tiger King is going on down there in Florida?!
Photo Credit: Getty Images