On March 13, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the Brownsville Port of Entry in Texas uncovered three live parrots concealed within a box inside a vehicle during a routine inspection. The vehicle, a 2007 GMC Yukon, was referred for secondary inspection at Gateway International Bridge where the birds were discovered. Parrots are protected species, and their smuggling into the United States is illegal under wildlife protection laws. CBP officials stressed that exotic birds can carry diseases not present in the U.S., posing a threat to native wildlife populations and the agricultural sector. The presence of such... [Continue Reading]