Grantsville, Md. – The remains of a female Northern Goshawk were found on June 17, 2011 by a DNR Biologist in the Savage River State Forest, near Grantsville, MD. Evidence corroborates that the female was shot and killed, leaving three orphaned chicks in the nest to die. This was the only known nesting goshawk, a State listed endangered species, in all of Maryland.
The Northern Goshawk is a large, powerful and secretive forest raptor or bird of prey. Goshawks were driven out of Maryland in the early 1900s by extensive timber harvesting, but returned in 2001 because of improved forest habitat.
“This is a symbol of Maryland’s last remaining wild places,” said Jonathan McKnight, who manages DNR’s non-game wildlife programs. “Why someone would kill this amazing and beautiful animal is difficult to comprehend.”
This would have been Maryland’s first successful goshawk nest recorded since 2006. The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible person(s).
For the full article READ >> Maryland Officials Seeking Northern Goshawk Killer : The Outdoor Wire.
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