Franklin police: Two men arrested for poaching at Wehr Nature Center

FRANKLIN -- Poachers in a Milwaukee County park were caught red-handed Wednesday, June 22nd. Two men were arrested at the Wehr Nature Center.

The Wehr Nature Center is about as peaceful a place as you can find in Milwaukee County. With acres of trees and wildlife, the sounds of everyday life mostly fade away. But shortly after 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, gunshots pierced the air.

"The police were called. They came out. They investigated and discovered that it was some young gentlemen poaching," said Deb McRae, director for the Wehr Nature Center.

McRae said it is believed the men were trying to hunt small game like rabbits and squirrels.

"You do that primarily very early in the morning because that's when you can get them," McRae said.

But is it illegal to do so in a county park. Police took both men into custody for poaching and discharging a firearm within city limits.

"Sometimes individuals don't know the rules and regulations and they see, ah, here's food. It's, 'I'm going to take some,'" McRae said.

McRae tells FOX6 News that poaching is pretty rare in the parks. But you will remember another recent, high-profile case in which a hunter poached a well-known buck named Bow Tie. Following public outcry, Bow Tie was preserved as a tribute. In an ironic twist, Bow Tie is now on display at the Wehr Nature Center.

McRae said the incident involving Bow Tie was very different from cases like the one on Wednesday.

"The small game poaching is very much a sustenance and food kind of thing. Bow Tie was a trophy mount," McRae said.

McRae said she worries that people will hear of isolated incidents like this -- and then become afraid of visiting the parks.