A 37-year-old Everson amphibian breeder faces charges for illegally trafficking newts, according to Whatcom County court documents. The six Anatolia newts, which are considered a moderate-to-high risk to the environment, were exposed to a potentially deadly amphibian pathogen at a Boston facility before being shipped to Whatcom County.
When state wildlife officers raided Andrew Majeske’s home, they found an additional 10 marbled newts, which are also illegal to possess in Washington state, according to court documents.
“These coordinated state and federal efforts prevented the introduction and spread of a high-risk invasive species and a potentially devastating amphibian pathogen in Washington,” Justin Bush, state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) aquatic invasive species division manager, said in a news release.
“If introduced to the wild, either could have caused severe ecological damage and triggered costly long-term management efforts,” he added.
The Boston amphibian dealer and breeder, Scotland McCarty, was allegedly acquiring federally prohibited species carrying an unknown pathogen from Europe, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His Massachusetts facility held between 300 and 500 animals exposed to the potentially deadly pathogen, which can spread through direct contact and contaminated environments, causing significant mortality rates and risk to native species, according to research.
The potentially diseased newts and salamanders were then allegedly sold to multiple people in the U.S., according to court documents.
Majeske allegedly bought the six Anatolia newts from McCarthy for between $750 and $1,000, including shipping to his Everson home.
This was the first time the pathogen was found in the U.S., according to the news release.
“While such an enforcement effort might seem small, such invasive species can have dramatic and catastrophic impacts on the environment, from small marine flora and fauna to salmon and Southern (Resident) orcas,” WDFW Police spokesperson Becky Elder told Cascadia Daily News. “It’s all interconnected.”
Even without carrying the potentially transferable and deadly disease, the two species of newt seized from the Everson breeder pose a risk to the local environment. Because of this, state law prohibits the species from being possessed, introduced or trafficked without authorization in Washington.
Elder was quick to point out that European green crabs, a Level 1 invasive species now found in Washington waters, are threatening an entire ecosystem.
WDFW police recommended two counts of unlawful use of an invasive species in the second degree, a gross misdemeanor, when referring the case to Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.
While the lead prosecutor in the case was not immediately available, Elder confirmed that the case was moving forward.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail, and/or a fine of not more than $5,000 for each count. CDN was unable to immediately confirm whether or not the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office is moving forward with the charges.
Isaac Stone Simonelli is CDN’s enterprise/investigations reporter; reach him at isaacsimonelli@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 127. For confidential tips, email isimonelli@proton.me.
