OPP seek killer of protected Cooper’s hawk
Bird protected under provincial law found fatally shot in Tecumseh Jan. 13
How did a young Cooper’s hawk suffer a fatal shot in Tecumseh earlier this month? Police are asking the public for tips.
Tecumseh OPP have disclosed they are working with the province’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on the case, which began on Jan. 13, around 9:30 a.m., when officers responded to a report of the mortally wounded bird.
The hawk was found in the area of an apartment building in the 11000 block of Tecumseh Road. It was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, but it did not survive.
Under the province’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Cooper’s hawks are on the list of “specially protected” raptors.
It is illegal to hunt or trap specially protected animals. Violating the Act can carry penalties of up to $25,000 in fines or up to a year in jail.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Essex County OPP at 519-7232491.
It would be of particular help if someone heard gunfire or noticed anything suspicious in the time and area where the injured bird was found.
Anonymous tips can be made via Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or www.catchcrooks.com.
The Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized bird of prey native to North America, and can be found primarily in forested areas of southern Ontario and the eastern U.S.
Cooper’s hawk tends to fly just at or below treetop level. It is shy and unobtrusive. It hunts during the day, feeding mostly on smaller birds, such as robins and jays.
From mid-april to early May, the Cooper’s hawk likes to nest in tall trees. It does not challenge human intrusion.
The Cooper’s hawk has been affected by loss of habitat in recent years.