There Seems to be an Epidemic of Gunshot Birds
This past week three of eight birds brought to BMW were gunshot victims. In the past month, thirty-one birds were admitted. Nine were illegally shot: 1 Merlin, 2 Cooper’s Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Great Horned Owl, 1 American Crow and 1 Snow Goose (shot with a rifle from a road). All but 1 Red-tailed Hawk and the Merlin were euthanized at the time of admission due to the extent of their injuries. The hawk is recovering from metacarpal fractures in his left wing. He is also being treated for ingested lead poisoning and appears to be blind in his left eye (due to damage caused by one of the 14 shotgun pellets that struck him). If he is able to fly well enough to be released, he will still need to be flown by a falconer to determine if he is capable of hunting with just one functional eye. That is a tall order for a sight hunter like a hawk.
Great Horned Owl 20-580
The first admission this past week was an owl found along a road near La Grande, OR. It was presumed to have been hit by a car. An exam and radiograph found injuries consistent with being shot. The projectile was likely non-lead. It fractured the owl’s left clavicle, coracoid and ulna without fragmenting or leaving traces of metal. Non-lead projectiles are made of metals like copper or steel. They are harder than lead and do not deform or fragment when they strike bone. You can see from the radiograph below that the owl was very well muscled, indicating she was an accomplished hunter, likely catching and consuming multiple rodents per night. She was providing a great service to the agricultural community.
Red-tailed Hawk 20-584
On Saturday, an adult Red-tailed Hawk was found in a pasture in a rural part of Kennewick, WA. Her legs were paralyzed. She had a small wound above her right hip. A radiograph showed a projectile lodged near her left hip. It had past through her spine, causing the paralysis. If you look closely at the projectile you will notice it’s shape is slightly deformed, indicating it is made of lead. You can also see, like the owl, the hawk is in excellent body condition. She was also providing free rodent control to the agricultural community.
Merlin 20-587
A female Merlin was found on the ground in a trailer park in Irrigon, Oregon. A Morrow County deputy indicated the small falcon had been shot. Her wounds were consistent with a gunshot injury. There was a tiny entrance wound at the top of her right shoulder. There was a much larger exit wound below her right elbow. The projectile traveled parallel to the humerus and didn’t break any bones, though there is some asymmetry in the right elbow. We are hopeful the wing will heal and the bird will be releasable. You can see from the radiograph that she also is in excellent physical condition.
Please help spread the word that raptors and other non-game migratory birds are protected by state and federal law. It is not legal to shoot them. If you see or hear people shooting in a residential area, please report them to the authorities. They pose a threat to people, pets, property and wildlife.
