Kelly McAllister wrote:
>
> 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 McAllisterYes, me! I should deal with it speedily.