Believe it or not, hawks are sometimes a major nuisance to property
owners. While the recovery of birds of prey from the brink of distinction has
been a remarkable wildlife achievement, their recovery can mean headaches for
you.
Solutions for hawk problems.
First, tolerance. There will never be lots of hawks or other
birds of prey. Being the top of the key chain, it is impossible for their numbers
to increase beyond the carrying capacity of the land.
Second, remember that hawks and other birds of prey are a FEDERALLY
PROTECTED SPECIES. You cannot kill them or harm them in any way without a federal
and sometimes state depredation permit. So all solutions will have to be non-lethal.
Non-Lethal Solutions for Hawks.
Pyrotechnics: Scare them with the loud booms of screamers and
projectile explosives. These are fired from a 12 gauge shotgun or special pistol.
Some states consider them firearms and you will need proper permits to shoot
them. Even if your state does not consider them firearms, you will still need
to treat them as deadly. Get training and/or instruction before using these
devices.
Hawks Aloft - September is prime time for hawk-watching
from Massachusetts' higher peaks as thousands of sharp-shinned, broad-winged
and other hawks press southward, riding prevailing wind currents. Mt. Wachusett,
Mt. Tom, Skinner State Park, Mt. Watatic, the Blue Hills and similar points
provide great vantages to witness the fall bird of prey passage. Source MassWildlife
News Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Wayne
F. MacCallum, Director Contact: Bill Davis - Phone: (508) 792-7270 ext. 153,
Fax: (508) 792-7275 E-mail: bill.davis@state.ma.us
(09/22/99, #12)
"Trained NYC Hawks Attack Chihuahua" by LARRY McSHANE Associated
Press NEW YORK it tells of an 18 inch hawk that attacked the small dog.
