Falconry’s False Glamour
Your article on falconry “Couple Is Hooked on Hawking” (March 1) by Janet Bergamo was presented in such a way as to glamorize the keeping of birds of prey in captivity. The article lacking any discussion about the opposition to falconry or changes in state law which may soon take effect.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently conducted a criminal sting known as “Operation Falcon,” and there were at least 75 successful prosecutions for illegal trafficking in birds of prey. Several captive breeders, for example, made millions of dollars each selling goshawks, peregrines and gyrfalcons.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Fish and Game has proposed to bring California into compliance with the more liberalized federal regulations. These same laws were responsible for the extent of criminal activity uncovered by the sting.
What we need, based on the criminal element in falconry, are more stringent laws protecting raptors and a prohibition on the sale of birds of prey. While freedom to keep any number of birds of prey and sell them may seem appropriate in a democratic country such as ours, they are enormously harmful for birds of prey and should be defeated.
J. RICHARD HILTON
Los Angeles
Hilton is president of the Society for the Preservation of Birds of Prey.
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