TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taitung recently experienced several bird poisoning incidents leading the Taitung County Government to say Wednesday (Oct.23) that only legal means of repelling birds is permissible, with those found poisoning birds facing fines of up to NT$1 million (US$31,000).

According to municipal authorities, legal means of preventing birds from harming crops include the use of bird repellents such as reflective objects, loud noises such as firecrackers, and scarecrows. If farmers can show wild birds are a threat to their livelihood, they can apply to their local government to set up bird nets to reduce damage to crops, per CNA.

Taitung County Agriculture Bureau has received reports of numerous bird poisoning incidents on farmland in Chishang Township and within Taitung City. Farmers are suspected of using poison bait to kill wild birds, many of which have been collected and sent to laboratories for further inspection.

Individuals using poison to kill wild birds also run the risk of imprisonment of not less than six months but no more than five years according to Article 41 of the Wildlife Conservation Act. Fines for killing protected bird species range up to NT$200,000.

If poisoned birds are outside the scope of protected species, offenders will be charged according to Article 49 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, facing a lesser fine between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000.