N.J. man accused of shooting protected hawks

NEWARK, N.J. — For nearly three years, dozens of dead and wounded raptors fell into yards in Somers Point, N.J., some with bloodied beaks, others with visible gunshot or pellet wounds.

Pops of gunfire erupted through the neighborhood. Some residents found bullet and pellet holes dotting the sides of their homes.

The birds turned out to be protected hawks that traverse a major migration route. And now a man faces federal charges that he repeatedly shot them from his back door.

Robert Losasso, 68, was arrested Friday on six counts of violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He is charged with killing or attempting to kill red-tailed hawks, sharp- shinned hawks, red-shouldered hawks and Cooper’s hawks.

Clad in a white T-shirt and what appeared to be plaid pajama pants cut off at the knees, Losasso made an initial appearance in federal court here Friday afternoon. He was released on $10,000 bail.

The federal public defender representing him declined to comment on the case.

Six birds of prey were recovered from yards near Losasso’s home. They were examined by scientists and were found to have suffered wounds from a rifle or pellet gun. A . 22-caliber bullet was recovered from one hawk and air gun pellets from another.

Authorities said they put up a camera near Losasso’s home that looked into his backyard. At various times, the camera caught him open a rear sliding door and stick the barrel of a gun outside, they said; sometimes he stepped outside and other times he didn’t. The camera also filmed Losasso sprinkling birdseed in his backyard and using binoculars before stepping outside with a gun, authorities said.

In June, off i cers searched Losasso’s home and found a .17-caliber pellet gun and .22-caliber rifle propped up against a wall near the rear sliding glass door. Losasso acknowledged they were his, but denied that he shot the birds. When he was first asked if he denied shooting the hawks, he said he would not answer because if he lied, it would be a felony, the complaint said. After that, he said, “I ain’t shot any.”