Published 13 days ago • loading... • Updated 13 days ago

Working birds: meet the B.C. hawks hired to escort problem gulls from the premises

Vega, a 10-year-old Harris's hawk, works with the Raptors on Vancouver Island to keep gulls away from landfills and airports.
Organizations use birds of prey like Vega to apply a natural predator presence that encourages gulls to relocate without harm.
Alex Goguen, the Raptors' Nanaimo manager, uses a stock whip to signal gulls at the landfill to leave, while Vega flies to deter them.
The Raptors operate seven days a week in fall and winter to prevent gulls from spreading trash, with Vega returning on whistle cues for food and rest.
This method helps reduce gull-related problems humanely, while Vega enjoys the symbiotic role and benefits from care that extends typical wild lifespan.

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