I know there is always alot of controversy on BYC about raptors. I see alot of SSS comments and they do bother me. Raptors are protected because people hunted/poisoned them to detrimental levels. I think the best way to explain it, that I've ever heard, was what if the Bald Eagle was killed until extinction? On of our national symbols would be gone because of our actions. What does that say about us? Just today I found a bald eagle in a tree, having a look at my flock. It freaked me out, I've only seen them in captivity or from a great distance. This one was huge and I hope it was just passing by. It flew off as soon as it saw me but I did go in to get a rifle. I have found that a great deterant against birds of prey is the sound of a well timed rifle shot. I shoot into the ground and have had hawks turn tail, mid flight. I also have fishing line strung over my yards and, knock on wood, have not had a single loss to a raptor within those areas. I have "caught" some of my full flight muscovy ducks by a wing in the fishing line and found an owl that must have come by one night caught up. So, this does work. I am all for protecting my birds. I have killed coons, possum, skunks. And if the neighbor's dogs come back, they too will be shot but there has to be a limit to what we do to protect them or we risk losing some magnificent animals. Just my opinion.
