OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – Reaction to Tuesday’s shooting of a snowy owl at Oshkosh’s Wittman Regional Airport is coming in.
Airport Director Peter Moll says a pilot spotted the bird in the grass, less than 50 feet off the east-west runway.
“We tried several warning shots in the air, not near it, to maybe scare it, tried the horn on the truck too. It just wouldn’t move.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program Chief Tom Cooper notes the permits his agency issues allow airports to shoot animals that are deemed a safety hazard, including snowy owls.
“Kind of a last step. Non-lethal techniques are tried. If those aren’t effective, then some lethal take may be required for safety purposes.”
But Winnebago Audubon Society President Janet Wissink is trying to keep this from happening again.
“Maybe we can work together to help remedy that, if we have certain people available.”
Moll says “we’ll reach out to those organizations that have offered training and definitely talk with them about what they can do to help us.”
