Baiting Owls

I live in Illinois where recently someone spotted a snowy owl and posted it on IBET. The owl has been present for several weeks and the entire situation has become a circus. Many photographers are now standing at the edge of the cornfield where the bird is located throwing mice to the bird in search of the perfect action shot. This makes me sick and I am not sure how to handle it????? Is it acceptable to scare the owl off to protect it? Should I call the DNR to come out and arrest these idiots? I am curious if this behavior exists in other states when a rare bird is spotted that stays around for awhile. I desperately want this bird to stay alive and would appreciate any advice from my fellow members. Please let me know if I am overreacting to the situation.

Thanks

Rick

This is a situation that happens almost everytime a Snowy Owl or similar Northern Owl shows up in the lower 48... sadly there are a lot of photographers with no moral compass who think nothing of throwing some bait out at birds.

I would contact the DNR and alert them to this as I'm almost certain it's illegal (probably under the Migratory Bird Act).

I can't stand this stuff. Not only are these inconsiderate jerks possibly harming the bird, they are hurting the image of all bird/wildlife photographers. You are not overreacting.

This makes me sick too Rick. I'd suggest reporting it to DNR just in case they can/will do something about it. Can't hurt and it just might help.

Baiting owls should not be tolerated! It carries the risk of introducing disease into a wild population for which it has no defense. OWLS=LOONY TUNES Keep them out of reports that are in the public domaine. See my recent thread:

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=63442&CGISESSID=c76c92e32e029566e7c038ec98a31be5&u=6510

Just a sad situation for the bird and for the reputation of nature photographers. If these people had any interest in what is best for the bird this would not happen. Anything to get the shot! Call the DNR.

Baiting owls should not be tolerated! It carries the risk of introducing disease into a wild population for which it has no defense. OWLS=LOONY TUNES Keep them out of reports that are in the public domaine. See my recent thread:

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=63442&CGISESSID=c76c92e32e029566e7c038ec98a31be5&u=6510

Baiting owls should not be tolerated! It carries the risk of introducing disease into a wild population for which it has no defense. OWLS=LOONY TUNES Keep them out of reports that are in the public domaine. See my recent thread:

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=63442&CGISESSID=c76c92e32e029566e7c038ec98a31be5&u=6510

I agree with the previous posts - this is shameful and unethical behavior that might be illegal as well.

I'd take photos of the people baiting the owl and post them on my blog in addition to reporting them to wildlife authorities.

I will call the DNR and keep you posted. Thanks for all the feedback on this disgusting problem.

Rick

If you don't get any response from DNR, you could also try the U.S. Fish and Widllfe Service. They have a Law Enforcement Division and they have full powers to enforce most wildlife laws and can do it in Federal Courts. You might also talk to someone inthe DNR wildlife agency (biologist). This might be a good opportunity to get information about the do's and don't of baiting wildlife. Most agencies have an I&E (Information and Education) branch which could post stories in papers and do PSA's, etc. Get something positive out of a bad situation.

Peter

If you want to read some great dialogue about this snowy owl go to IBET which is the Illinois Birding Forum and look under the postings about the Ogle County Snowy Owl. If interested you will have some great material. I contacted Dale Bowman (Outdoor Writer) from the Sun Times and the DNR and hope they will put a stop to this practice. Dale has been following the story and abhors the practice of baiting birds for pictures.


Rick

I was disgusted to read about Rick's experience with the Snowy. I live in Toronto, Ontario and heard about a Snowy in a lowland farming area about an hour north of me, after several tries I finally found her. In that time, I only came across one other photographer and an elderly couple with a scope, and we all attempted to stay quiet and lay low so as not to make the Snowy anxious. Quite the opposite of what Rick experienced. The fact that the Snowy was sitting on an electrical pole 1500+ yards away in the middle of a field on private property made a difference (very smart bird). It was a hazy and overcast day with low gray light, and even with my 500 + 1.4 it was still a small image in the middle of my veiwfinder. I got a few shots (and she's a beauty) but they are soft images at 1:1. It's sunny today and I'm going out to find her again and if I get any decent shots of the Snowy or idiot bird baiters, I'll post them.

Garry

Hi Rick,

I'm in total agreement with you on this. This may shock you more: I know of commercial operations in Canada that annually offer photo tours featuring flight shots of snowys as a main feature. And, of course, baiting using live mice is their standard method of working. If feel the same way (revulsion) about the baiting of any carnivore (and many/most other species) for photographic purposes. I know of many photographers who regularly photograph free-ranging and totally wild bears that have been baited (apparently with it causing no ethical issues to them) for the sole reason of photography...

Brad

Ironic that it really is called Ogle County. I haven't heard of anything like that happening around the SF Bay Area despite the fact that sightinings of interesting birds and animals get around very quickly on the internet. I'm surprised with all the people out there, no one has said anything to the photographers about feeding wildlife. I read one email on that bird list that spoke of so many mice being fed to the owl that it was too stuffed to eat another one.

Rick,

I'm against baiting because of my own personal ethics. It makes me ill to read when I hear of flocks of photographers baiting owls or other raptors with mice and turning "nature" into a zoo. I feel that I have as much right to take images of non-baited birds on public land as those who think baiting is fine (illegal or not). Or drugging other small birds to use as prey.

I have heard other photographers say "the only way to get the shot is to bait". I disagree.

I'd also take photos of the people baiting in case they are needed. And find out the laws concerning migratory birds in your area whether that is through the DNR or the US Fish and Wildlife services.

When you take images of the people baiting the owl, make sure you go up to them and say please hold up the mouse so I can get a good shot of you throwing it to the owl. That way I have good evidence of what you are doing for the courts to weigh in their deliberation. See what the people baiting the owl have to say to that.

I also agree that this baiting is terrible, but I would be careful with the advice of confronting these people on your own. People like that may become beligerent and you are probably not equiped or desire to handle that. I'd let the athorities do the confrontations.

I agree wholeheartedly with everyone here regarding baiting Owls or Raptors and take the stand that this should never be done. I certainly have not seen any photographer here in the Vancouver area doing this, or even contemplating it.

We've had a Northern Hawk Owl here since December 2nd and it has been observed to get voles in the area about twice daily on average! We are hoping that it will remember this spot as being a good supplier of food for it to return next year. In the meantime, many of us have had good photo opportunities of this wild bird doing its wild thing!

not to go all bleeding heart here, but beyond the effects on the owls, one thing that I don't often see mentioned is the fate of the bait animal. I'm no huge fan of mice, and I kill them in my house if I have to, but the idea of purchasing some animals and essentially, killing them, in order to get a shot of another animal seems pretty weird to me. Definitely doesn't feel like good nature photography ethics or karma. Once you start baiting, how many creatures are you willing to kill to get your shot? Is there a limit? And with what species/ types of creatures do you draw the line?? And if you do bait, do you only use native species, in case they escape, or are you content to use non-native and potenially invasive species??