owl just got a hen UPDATED

[Julie_A]

You know what, I think I've read too many of these posts. I dreamed, last night, that people could be charged with violations based on statements they made on Facebook. What a weird dream!

 

[Eagle2026]

Quote:
In regards to shooting protected species you might want to check with a competent lawyer in your area before stating that it is legal to "shoot first and ask questions later". A better understanding now might prevent legal problems on down the road.

Ed

In this day of PC it is good to see that at least one law the right to protect your livestock still is followed...........





Arlington dog was shot after attacking newborn calf

By Jackson Holtz
Herald Writer

ARLINGTON — Chopper’s big eyes splashed across a Seattle TV station's newscasts earlier this week.

The yellow Labrador retriever’s owner reported Chopper was suffering after being wounded by 73 lead pellets fired from a shotgun. The shooting occurred near the family’s home in unincorporated Arlington, east of the airport.

Sympathy welled and, according to Snohomish County Animal Control documents, fingers started to get pointed at neighborhood teens with a reputation for shooting coyotes.

It turns out that while Chopper’s injuries are unfortunate, the shooting was justified under county rules, animal control manager Vicki Lubrin said.

It also had nothing to do with kids.

Instead the shooting apparently occurred when a farmer was legally taking steps to protect their livestock.

Chopper’s owners now face possible fines and violations for letting their dogs run loose and apparently attacking a neighbor’s newborn calf. So do the people who own Bella, a black lab who was also involved but escaped being hit by the shotgun pellets.

Here’s what a four-page county report says happened:

Early the afternoon of New Year’s Day, an Arlington-area woman heard dogs barking in her cow pasture. She told officials she loaded two rounds into her shotgun, went outside and drove the dogs off with gunfire.

The woman said she was worried about three young calves, including one that was about 6 hours old.

She told investigators she saw a black dog run off but didn’t see where the yellow dog went. She’d had prior experience with the black dog, later identified as Bella. The woman filed a complaint in 2008 after Bella got into her chickens.

The newly born calf was motionless when the woman reached it, but it finally got up and limped off to join its mother.

On Saturday, neighbors knocked on the woman’s door to say they’d found an injured dog on her property. She and her husband used their tractor to help bring the dog to its owner.

The woman’s husband later saw the TV story about Chopper’s shooting and called 911 to report what happened.

“She did have a right to protect her livestock and she was not in the wrong for shooting the dog,” Animal Control officer Lisa Lyons wrote in her report.

Chopper’s owners now may face fines for violations related to the livestock attack, violating leash laws and having an unlicensed dog. Bella’s owners face similar fines and on Wednesday took out a license for her. Both dogs have been deemed dangerous, which requires they be kept inside enclosures.

The owners can appeal the county violations and the $50 fine.

“We understand this was a tragic thing that happened,” Lubrin said. It all could have been prevented if the dogs were kept secured, she said. "Keep Fido in your purview.”

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, [email protected].


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Don't know what city yer from?
Mike

 

[LynneP]

We're seeing an unusual number of owls, especially barred owls. There is a layer of ice over the ground and I think they are having trouble getting rodents so are hunting wild birds and domestic. Our neighbour two doors down can't free-range his birds there are so many. Oels are bold, I was once strafed by one, cut my scalp. He was a rescue bird and the owner was feeding him scraps when I approached and he defended the food from me. Scared the be***** out of me.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Please understand I say this as a calm person and one who is not angry but understanding. I am not saying that one cannot take steps to protect one’s livestock.

Even with all of the precautions I have taken, I am not sure that someday I will not go running outside to find the raccoons getting into my chicken pen. When this happens, I have a tool from Sears. It is supposed to be a weed remover. It is about six foot long with a metal fork on the end of it. This means I will be bashing heads and doing whatever it takes to dissuade ANY animal , be it dog or a wild critter from harming my animals. For protection against mammals, Cayenne pepper is cheap and is your friend.

To be vigilant is easier for some of us because our stock is closer to the house and we are home more. This I understand. All I can say is best of luck and understand that nature is nature and it is not the enemy.

Everything on this planet is trying to make a living. If you set the dinner table outside be prepared to hover over your dish twenty-four seven.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

.... just a thought. When bears wonder into towns because of the easy free food the town provides in trash cans ect... dont they remove the bear to a remote place and tag it. I could be wrong but if the bear keeps coming back dont they put it down

Why is it different for birds of prey? I mean, I know you cant catch em and take em out to some park in the wilds and expect it not to come back, but this owl has spent good time breaking into a coop and he knows where the meals are. Why would he not spend night after night working on new ways to break into the coop? Why should he not be treated as a bear.. are they worth more to our earth than the bear?

Owls are creepy and also majestic.... so well basically I dun-no!

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Well......it's simple, birds of prey are not bears.

And, sooner or later...if the bird fails to get a meal...they get hungry and move on.

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
And at the same time it is complicated.

Birds are covered by international treaties and federal laws.

Then you have game animals that can be covered by federal and state laws.

Then you have what is defined as livestock by state/local laws.

What is the definition of a pet where you live.

And this is still keeping it simple. It's really a lot more complex.

It isn't easy. You need to familiarize yourself with the laws, just don't go with what someone else says, especially if they are from a different state.



But yes, birds of prey are not bears. They are covered by different laws and are more mobile. Bears are more dangerous to humans.





Lady, you were editing while I was writing.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
In Washington State it is NOT legal to shoot Raptors.

Yes, you are entitled to protect your livestock - against dogs but not raptors unless you have special permit to trap and relocate.

 

[chicknmania]

Better solution would be to bring your birds inside at night, or build a coop an owl can't break into. Or maybe you like rats and mice. In case you don't know, it's illegal to kill owls, too. fyi,. We've had chickens and poultry for five years and we've never lost one to an owl....because they go into a building at night, and we close the door.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

In my parts the law says you have the right to defend your property. If someone/thing comes on my land with intent to kill/harm it could be shot human or animal.

Notice I did not say I would shoot someone or thing.

Sorry ahead of time for offending anyone.