Woman facing charges of poisoning about 100 birds of prey near Violet Town

She faces 291 charges relating to birds and other wildlife, with all charges relating to alleged offences in 2019.

Department of Land, Environment, Water and Planning prosecutor Anne-Marie Stephanides said the offences fell under three different categories.

These were possession of birds and wildlife on the woman’s premises, charges of poisoning, and possession of wildlife found in a freezer, she said.

Ms Stephanides said the poisoning related to the laying of bait.

“I understand the identification of the person who laid the baits is the issue,” she said.

Among the charges are 99 counts of destroying wildlife with poisoned bait.

These relate to 50 wedge-tailed eagles, 48 raptors and one whistling kite.

Ms Sloan is also charged with aggravated cruelty by an act of cruelty through ingesting poisoned bait causing unreasonable pain and suffering which resulted in death.

These related to six wedge-tailed eagles and one whistling kite.

There are also 155 charges of possessing protected wildlife contrary to the Wildlife Act.

This includes 90 wedge-tailed eagles, 25 raptors, two whistling kites, one laughing kookaburra, 15 galahs, five sulphur-crested cockatoos, four eastern grey kangaroos, two wood ducks, three grebes, five hoary-headed grebes, two grey-teals and one raven.

There are also 26 charges of possessing wildlife taken from the wild in contravention of the Wildlife Act 1975 or a corresponding law of another state or territory of the Commonwealth.

These relate to seven galahs, two wood ducks, five grebes, three hairless eastern grey kangaroo joeys, five hoary-headed grebes and one grey-teal.

The court heard there were still matters to be resolved between the prosecution and defence, but a special mention date was set down for October in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

Experts are expected to be called to give evidence in the case.