News
Washington man charged with slaughtering eagles for illegal profit
A Washington state man is facing charges for his involvement in a disturbing crime that involved the killing of thousands of birds, including eagles, on an American Indian reservation in Montana. Travis John Branson, along with another defendant, Simon Paul, allegedly engaged in a spree of illegal hunting and selling of eagle feathers and body parts on the black market.
The case highlights the persistence of an illegal trade in eagle feathers despite law enforcement efforts to crackdown on such activities in the past. The grand jury indictment quotes Branson as saying he was going on a “killing spree” to obtain eagle tails, resulting in the deaths of approximately 3,600 birds, including eagles, on the Flathead reservation and elsewhere.
In March 2021, Branson reportedly sold two sets of golden eagle tail feathers to an unidentified purchaser for $650. A few weeks later, he was stopped by law enforcement on the reservation, where they found the feet and feathers of a golden eagle he had shot. This gruesome discovery led to further investigations that uncovered a network of illegal trafficking in eagle parts.
Feathers and body parts of eagles are illegal to sell but are highly sought after by Native Americans for ceremonial purposes. Despite this, Branson continued to engage in the illegal trade, leading to his indictment on several charges including conspiracy and wildlife trafficking.
Branson reached a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to four counts, with a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His accomplice, Simon Paul, remains at large after failing to appear for a court hearing in December.
The indictment reveals a long-standing conspiracy that dates back to 2015 and involves other individuals who have not been publicly identified. Text messages exchanged by Branson indicate a cavalier attitude towards the illegal activity, with references to committing felonies and shipping eagles internationally.
The criminal case comes as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in protecting endangered bird species like eagles. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, enacted in 1940 and extended to protect golden eagles in 1962, aims to safeguard these majestic birds from exploitation.
While efforts to conserve eagle populations have made significant progress in recent years, incidents like the one involving Branson and Paul highlight the continued threats posed by illegal trafficking in eagle parts. It is essential for law enforcement agencies and wildlife organizations to remain vigilant in combating such activities to ensure the survival of these iconic birds for future generations.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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