Idaho to kill thousands of ravens to benefit imperiled bird species

[Chris Merkord]

2 ravens harassing grouse (full size) by Tatiana Gettelman, on Flickr

(Reuters) - Idaho is planning to kill thousands of ravens to protect another bird whose eggs and chicks are among its prey, despite criticism that human development is a greater threat to the imperiled sage-grouse than the black-winged bird.

 

Ravens, carrion birds often popularly depicted as omens of death or misfortune, will be killed by baiting them with poisoned chicken eggs, shooting them and destroying a number of their eggs and nests, Idaho wildlife managers said.

 

Ravens are protected by federal law, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently granted Idaho a permit to kill 4,000 ravens in four areas of the state over two years. That will begin this month and end in June, with a second round planned for next year, federal documents show.

 

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/19/usa-idaho-raven-idUSL2N0MG12V20140319