Tweeters,

Yesterday, a caller to the Department of Fish and Wildlife left a lengthy
message about a problem in Seattle (the caller hung up without leaving his
name). The story goes something like this:

Peregrines in Seattle are erasing the squirrel population. This past
summer, a large peregrine moved in and starting eating an unusual amount of
squirrels, reducing their numbers to only one or two in only about two weeks
time. The little squirrels are out now. They have been seen in both West
Seattle and Magnolia. So the question is: Do we want to give up all of the
squirrel population to a couple of birds or do something about it? This is
an artificial situation, similar to the sea lion situation at the locks.
The peregrines take advantage of high wires and expanses of open lawn so
that they are especially efficient at killing the squirrels. Because of
this man-made situation, these birds are erasing the wildlife in these
neighborhoods and small kitties too, right in people's yards. Something
needs to be done about it. The birds should be moved out to the forest
where they belong.

That's it, a rather unusual kind of call, but not unprecedented for the
values and point-of-view expressed. Are there any hawks in the city that
regularly take Eastern Gray Squirrels out on the lawn? Should this caller
call again, can I transfer the call to anyone out there? :)

Kelly McAllister