California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) is seeking to allow, and in some cases increase, the number of wild birds — including hawks, falcons and owls — who can be taken from the wild and used for the “sport” of falconry.
Please speak out today against this unwise and inhumane proposal.
Wild birds of prey fly for miles a day with no boundaries, experiencing a level of freedom that is unparalleled by many animals. In falconry, however, they often are kept hooded in a small cage, tethered to a perch. While such housing and treatment may be standard in the falconry industry, it is hardly capable of accommodating natural behavior.
In addition to such bird welfare issues, we are concerned that the DFW’s proposal has failed to examine fully the environmental impacts of the wild birds’ removal (sometimes as chicks, from their nests!) as well as the potential impacts of allowing falconers to possess and breed non-native exotic raptors in the state.
Please speak out against this misguided proposal. (Read more about it here.) Raptors should not be preyed upon for human amusement.
by Monica Engebretson
No living being is meant to be exploited, harmed and killed for the entertainment of another. I signed the petition. It only takes seconds. Petitions DO make a difference. Thank you for your work in raising public awareness and influencing increased empathy and compassion. Compassion lends voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. ~Gerean Pflug for The Animal Spirits
Reblogged this on Wisconsin Wildlife Ethic-Vote Our Wildlife and commented:
Oh, come on California. You take the lead to get rid of hounding and allow this garbage? I am sure this will be the next big thing in Wisconsin too.
I pressed this issue as far as the Dept of the Interior.
I also notified The Center for Biological Diversity, Earth Justice and our WONDERFUL Raptor Sanctuary, Hawk Mountain.
Raptors hold special meaning to most.
My Spirit Guide is the Snowy Owl.
I read most of the proposal, particularly statistics tables and conclusions/alternatives, and frankly, I don’t know what people are obsessing about. Raptors have been raised, caught, and used in falconry for literally thousands of years, and there are adequate protections in place. Falconers are well trained and take excellent care of their raptors. Emotional personal opinions are pretty rampant here, but I’d bet that no one who is speaking against falconry has ever really been involved in it or known someone who has. I too have explored native American traditions with animal guides/spirits, and none of that precludes use of animals with the proper reverence and respect. Reality is needed rather than Disneyfication, folks, and not “animal rights” vitriol against animal users!