I'll cast my vote for the WDFW. After the owl picture and story appeared
in the paper, I fully expected that owl gawkers would soon be greeted in the
morning by the sight of a dead owl staked to a tree next to some political
message written in owl blood.

I was surprised (and impressed) that the WDFW moved so fast, and that they
were willing to take the risk. Any time capture of a wild bird is involved,
there is always the chance of not being able to capture it or injuring it
during capture and thus making the department look like it's filled with
bozos. It could have turned into a PR nightmare.

A Spotted Owl is not the same as a Xantus' Hummingbird. The latter is not
a political football.

Kelly Cassidy