The California pair told colleagues Fliers about Turtle Skull, it was for a shock

They were just passengers aboard a plane, flew over California and had a discussion.

The couple told his adventures in hunting with the pair of butterflies in front of them. Apparently things became comfortable and confessed that they hunted a mountain lion. In fact, a close relative was a big fan of wild animals that were filled and mounted – they had a mountain lei, a wolf and wolves in a “trophy room”.

Not only did the couple had a trophy, the skull of a large tortoise and was with them on board.

The passengers in the front row were sure they listened with an avid interest. They were officers with the Department of Fish and Wild Animals in California.

As CDFW reported the story, the pair was dressed in simple clothes and flew to northern California, after participating in a training session in San Diego.

When the plane landed, the hunters were asked by their traveling companions, if they could take a look at that turtle skull.

According to wildlife officials, the couple “recognized the potential illegal possession”. Then they waited until the coast was clear – making sure there are no TSA agents around.

They removed the skull that the authorities said they secreted inside a jacket in their luggage.

These bones belonged to a federal -listed end -operated species, which is illegal to own and transport.

After the wild animal officers returned to their land, they wrote search warrants – one for the couple’s Chico house and another for the family member of Napa county, with the love for taxidermia.

At the Chico residence, CDFW says that the mountain lion claws, a cat’s tail cat and a mounted barn were among the discoveries.

Mountain lions, cats with the tail of appeal and wolves are species protected in California, as the agency notes, and the permits are needed for mounted kidnappers.

At the home of Napa County, a full -bodied mountain lions and a Wolverine were discovered, the agency said.

The American Wild Fish and Animal Service has witnessed Byron Lee Fitzpatrick’s search mandates, investigations and prosecution, Shannon Lee Price, 28 and Harry Vern Fitzpatrick.

All three of them pleaded guilty of violating fish and game codes, $ 1,865 fines, $ 1,015 and $ 605, respectively, and were placed in probation. The younger pecher forbidden the hunt for a year.

“Like trafficking in people and drugs,” said CDFW in a press release Singling the severity of the incidents, “Trafficking in wild animals of both live animals and animal parts is known to finance transnational criminal organizations and their violent activities around the world.”