A huge hawk is terrorizing my chickens!!!

[Iflyonhorses]

The problem in our not-so-rural anymore town, and what is happening all over the country is that cityfolk want to move out to the country. (don't blame them - I wouldn't like to live in the city either) They buy a few acres of farmland or forest and build a McMansion. They have what I call Walt Disney syndrome - too many Dr. Dolittle movies, etc. They have not had the education that the farmer has had regarding living near the edge of a wildlife area. They build their house in the forest and then don't undersand when the coyote grabs their terrier or a hawk or owl makes off with their kitten. Habitat destruction is pressuring wildlife to exist closer and closer to man. These same people move to the country and then try to change town ordinances because they don't like to hear roosters crowing in the morning, or the smell of somebody opening a silo or spreading manure on their fields. I feel that small farmers are suffering under many of the same pressures as wildlife. We had one of the biggest pig farms in the state in our town. A subdivision went up very close to it. The first summer brought odors and flies that these people should have expected would come, given that they bought a house next to a pig farm. 10 years later, there are no pigs but the houses still stand. In my opinion, people need to educate themselves and take more responsibility for their choices. A hawk that attacks a full grown human is an an anomoly - something is wrong with it. A hawk that attacks a teacup canine or a kitten or a chicken is just being a normal hawk. We have to respect our wildlife and we have to respect our farmers. We can all find a way to get along.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Last time I checked the Migratory Birds Treaty Act, it could be a felony, depending on the specific circumstances, requiring jail time as well as a $ multi-thousand fine. That's pretty severe to me. There is currently a new bill (passed the house) that significantly increases the penalties.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act covers Bald and Golden eagles and MIGRATORY birds. Hawks (generally) are NOT migratory they are territorial, nor are they Bald Eagles, hence the name Hawk. Call your LOCAL game warden. Ask if hawks and more specifically any species are protected. We have several species, but only one is protected and it is pretty small. If the hawk isn't protected, your chickens should be. If the rope doesn't get it done, and it is legal, I suggest a 12 guage shotgun loaded with #2 or 4 shot. The shot that doesn't hit the bird should drop harmlessly back the ground.

I suggest that you check the federal government's list of birds protected by the Migratory Birds Treaty Act (http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/mbta/mbtandx.html, http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/mbta/compare.pdf); ALL raptors are protected. They are also protected under several other laws. Most hawks are not endangered, but some are. Hawks are considered a migratory bird, although some individual birds do remain in the same location year round; I suggest that you look at the maps in any good birding book.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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The Migratory Bird Treaty Act covers Bald and Golden eagles and MIGRATORY birds. Hawks (generally) are NOT migratory they are territorial, nor are they Bald Eagles, hence the name Hawk. Call your LOCAL game warden. Ask if hawks and more specifically any species are protected. We have several species, but only one is protected and it is pretty small. If the hawk isn't protected, your chickens should be. If the rope doesn't get it done, and it is legal, I suggest a 12 guage shotgun loaded with #2 or 4 shot. The shot that doesn't hit the bird should drop harmlessly back the ground.

The shotgun is safe used properly, but I suggest they contact a professional. State game wardens may do the job for them if asked and it is explained the nature of the attacks. I started my career in law enforcement and we dispatched any wildlife that was considered a danger to people especially children. The technique used was to pin a dead rat to a fence post and wait for the hawk to land and eat. The hawk is then picked off from concealment with a high caliber rifle.

I understand peoples love for wildlife and the hawk in particular, and I know the law, now it could have changed recently and I will research that. But folks lets not get off on the "your going to jail forever talk", for defending your family and property. There has been rulings in the supreme court upholding a persons right to break a law to protect their own. SCOTUS decisions outweigh migratory bird regulations and high emotions.

I have never heard of a hawk or eagle attacking a person unless it was defending its nest or babies; there are numerous cases and rulings that uphold the illegality of violating the treaty act despite trying to ptotect ones livestock or pets. FWS is the ONLY eforcement agency who can legally authorize taking of birds protected by the act. State Game Wardens cannot legally make the call nor can any other law enforcement agency.

 

[cowdogcadillac]

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AMEN!!!!! Well Said.!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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A hawk is terrorising a cathedral city where it has attacked two joggers and killed a pet.

Experts are trying to catch it before it strikes again. They fear it could seriously injure a young child.


A Harris hawk, which has a 3ft wingspan, is roaming the skies above Lichfield, Staffs.

Diane Jackson-Bond, 44, described yesterday how she was left bloodied after being attacked while running along a country lane. Miss Jackson-Bond, a former policewoman, said: "I had seen the bird and thought that it was following me but put such ideas out of my head and carried on jogging.

"Moments later it flew down on to my head with such a force that it almost knocked me sideways.

"It had its talons embedded in my skull and it was agony. I managed to shoo it away briefly but then it came back at me.

"Luckily a man who was driving past stopped and said 'get in'. So I did and he drove me to safety.

"I was so frightened - its talons got me and I had blood all over my head and face.

"I had some nasty scratches for a couple of days afterwards. The bird was big and hefty. I have three children aged 14, 11 and 10 and I worry that they'll get hurt."

Edited for language. ~Lisa~
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Links?

 

[WalkingWolf]

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The shotgun is safe used properly, but I suggest they contact a professional. State game wardens may do the job for them if asked and it is explained the nature of the attacks. I started my career in law enforcement and we dispatched any wildlife that was considered a danger to people especially children. The technique used was to pin a dead rat to a fence post and wait for the hawk to land and eat. The hawk is then picked off from concealment with a high caliber rifle.

I understand peoples love for wildlife and the hawk in particular, and I know the law, now it could have changed recently and I will research that. But folks lets not get off on the "your going to jail forever talk", for defending your family and property. There has been rulings in the supreme court upholding a persons right to break a law to protect their own. SCOTUS decisions outweigh migratory bird regulations and high emotions.

I have never heard of a hawk or eagle attacking a person unless it was defending its nest or babies; there are numerous cases and rulings that uphold the illegality of violating the treaty act despite trying to ptotect ones livestock or pets. FWS is the ONLY eforcement agency who can legally authorize taking of birds protected by the act. State Game Wardens cannot legally make the call nor can any other law enforcement agency.

Really, I guess you missed the post in here where a hawk attacked a female cop. My MIL was also attacked, you passion or zeal has overcome your common sense. State game wardens act on and enforce US game laws and with federal funding and blessing. The same as state ag inspectors act with US authority and are compensated for such. All federal laws are enforceable by local, state, county, or any community law enforcement. Furthermore the federal government enlists and commissions other agencies to assist them in carrying out their task. This ranges anywhere from providing law enforcement assistance on federal land and off to providing corrections facilities to disaster response. In planning strategy all agencies that might be affected are involved, and receive federal funding and in some cases the officers are sworn as federal officers for the task.

I have worked with the FBI, US Marshall's, US Fish and Wildlife, IRS, Border Patrol, US Customs. Local law enforcement needs NO permit to remove a threat. And further federal law enforcement and state laws give law enforcement privileges to break certain misdemeanors in the performance of their duty.

The biggest problem with the endangerment of wildlife is the hyperventilating crowd that cannot see straight or use any common sense. These are also the ones caught feeding the wildlife which causes most of the problems with the attacks on people or other problems with wildlife. It is time some people STOP throwing tantrums because some others value personal life and property more than a romantic ideal. For the record the fine for feeding any wildlife starts at $500, and is a federal misdemeanor, just as much a crime as killing a raptor.

 

[haTHOR]

i thought the moderator was pretty clear on all this.

and it sounds as if you are saying that the hawk in the OP is a menace to people. taking a chicken is not being a menace to people.

 

[WalkingWolf]

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Nobody said any such thing, but it is always a possibility especially if someone common sense challenged has been trying to feed the hawk. This got off course as it always does by a poster implying that people will get thrown in jail forever for discussing hawk problems. Even to the point to suggest that it is illegal to follow the law and notify the authorities and follow legal procedure. Implying that the boogie man(government) was watching us and coming to get us. All Bovine Scatology.

The OP came here to vent a little bit and seek some comfort among fellow members only to be subjected to the usual by those that would put animals above people, except themselves. A little common sense and stopping the fear mongering would go a long way to keep these threads from ending up trashed. A lot of things are illegal and almost all of us commit a misdemeanor, traffic offense, or petty offense in the course of our life. But as much as I think the government is to large and to nosy, I am no conspiracy theorist believing that I will get arrested or anyone else will for expressing free speech.

There are no conspiracies to commit crimes in this thread, and no crimes have been committed and nobody is going to jail. If a person decides to break the law on this topic or any other or any purpose they take it upon their own, and honestly all the intimidation tactics on a internet thread are useless to stop them. So why do it?

I have on this thread and others advocating other means than killing for hawk problems. First off killing a hawk is NOT an easy task, most likely a professional will be enlisted and that professional will obtain a legal permit. NOR do I think it is my, or anybody else right to tell people how to legally raise their chickens. Suggesting may be fine, but the blatant lock em up or else is again foolish. I am not a chicken but I would prefer taking my chances with my ability to roam withing reason as to be locked up in a pen all the time. For those like me I make suggestions how to make the yard safer for the birds, instead of forcing my style on someone else. And IMO it is extremely rude to suggest locking family up, instead of dealing correctly with a problem.

My advice is place as many obstacles in the area of the chickens as possible, string rope, hang cloths, anything to break the hawks desire to dive kill and get away. Have a dog that is safe around the chickens that the hawk will see as a predator. Hang cds, put up owl decoys, and encourage the crows to hang around with cracked corn. In the circumstance a hawk should dive on a person, or even a dog which they normally see as a predator, it is time to call authorities. Report any person feeding raptors or other protected species or dangerous predator, it is against the law and the source of most human attacks. It is a federal misdemeanor.

 

[haTHOR]

you know it's interesting...you mention "feeding " raptors being a problem. and i agree with you. i just happen to think that having birds unprotected in the yard or field increases the likelihood of doing just that--feeding the hawks. from rthe birds' perspective, it's chicken take-out. anything one can do to make it more difficult for the hawk to get at those birds--short of killing or harassing a federally protected species--lessens one's chances of "feeding" wildlife.

 

[WalkingWolf]

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I am talking about feeding the hawks by either placing meat or fish by hand or baiting to attract hawks for personal enjoyment. This is a problem with all wildlife, and illegal in some of the cases. Yes I have seen a Asian tourist on US 1 trying to coax a osprey with bait fish in his hand so his wife could take his picture. We would find people with wildlife stickers on their vehicles trying to feed endangered species on the back roads in the keys. People have lost their appendages as well as their life feeding gators.

Hawk threads run into the same emotional problem as the dogs at large thread, where a certain element believe the dogs right is above that of the property owner, when dogs at large are against the law. Yet we see the same demands of the chicken owners "lock em up" and even one suggesting that the children be kept 24/7 in the house.

Let the OP vent and seek comfort, let members offer support, and above all use common sense.