Rewards are being offered after two hawks were shot and killed last month in Niagara County.
Two rewards of $2,500 each - by the Humane Society and its Society Wildlife Land Trust - are being offered for information on those responsible for shooting the hawks.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said a mortally wounded red-tailed hawk was discovered along Green Road in Cambria on July 13. The hawk died under the care of a wildlife rehabilitator. On July 18, a Coopers hawk was discovered shot on Ruie Road, North Tonawanda. The hawk had to be euthanized, authorities said.
The two cases are not believed to be related, according to U.S. Wildlife Special Agent Lee Schneckenberger.
"In both cases, we were alerted by wildlife rehabilitators," Schneckenberger said.
"We take this very seriously," said Brian Shapiro, New York State director for the Humane Society of the United States. "Poaching is an enormous problem in the United States and the Humane Society is committed to combating poaching."
Shapiro said that since 2008, the Humane Society has offered $400,000 in rewards across the nation for information that leads to the arrest of those involved in poaching.
According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, hawks - along with other endangered species, including songbirds and owls - are fully protected. Shooting a hawk also is a federal offense, a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Hawks are known for their hunting ability, able to spot smaller prey, including mice and songbirds, then swoop down for the kill.
"If I had to guess [what led to these cases of poaching], I would guess it is people who have chickens or people who feed birds in their backyard who don't like the hawks who may feed on songbirds," said Schneckenberger.
"It could be kids, too, playing around shooting at any birds they see."
He said most licensed hunters are fully aware of DEC restrictions.
"There's no open season for any of the hawk species. People with a license to hunt - a majority of them if not all of them - know that they can't shoot birds of this type," he said.
Wildlife officials estimate that, nationwide, tens of millions of animals are poached annually but only a small percentage come to the attention of law enforcement.
According to Shapiro, some kill illegally without regard to regulations, or just for "the wanton thrill of killing wildlife."
"It's very difficult to bring these people to justice," Shapiro said. 'That's why we offer these rewards. We want the public to be alert and realize just how important this is."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Schneckenberger locally at 69 635, Ext. 202. Callers may remain anonymous.
