9 December 2016
An escaped bird of prey which is
believed to have killed red squirrels on the Isle of Wight is frustrating
efforts to capture it.
The red tailed hawk escaped from
a private owner and is known to have killed at least two of the island's
protected population of red squirrels.
Falconer Steven Hain said
"everything possible" had been tried in an effort to catch it.
He said traps had been tried but
shooting it would be a "last resort".
The hawk, native to the US where
it is also known as a chicken hawk, was first spotted in the Seaview area in
the late spring.
"We've been going for
several months, we've tried all sorts. Bait, traps, literally running after it
through the countryside to try and tire it out. We've tried everything
possible.
"It doesn't belong here. Our
nature isn't designed to cope with the red tailed hawk.
"I don't want to see any
bird of prey shot, that would be a last resort."
He appealed for help from local
residents in reporting sightings.
Hampshire Constabulary dismissed
press reports that armed police were on stand-by to shoot the bird.
A spokesman said officers had
helped trace the owner but would not be involved in any operation to shoot it.
The island is a rare stronghold
of the red squirrel as the Solent has acted as barrier preventing grey
squirrels overrunning them.
