Agency Investigating Hawaiian Hawk Shootings

A Hawaiian hawk is currently under treatment at a Kona exotic animal sanctuary after being shot with a pellet gun.

The bird is the second to be treated at the Three Ring Ranch in the past two months for similar injuries.

Hawaiian hawks or io are listed as an endangered species.

Because one of the io was found near a residence where chickens were being raised, Three Ring Ranch curator Ann Goody believes the hawks may have been shot to keep them from attacking the fowl.

Such actions are not only illegal, but also unnecessary, she said.

“Hen shelters are easy and cheap to build and save the chickens from being predated on by hawks,” Goody said.

The hawk currently under her care was found on April 26 in a yard in Kailua-Kona. It was unable to fly and cats were circling around it.

It had an injury to its wing and an x-ray showed a pellet lodged in its chest.

The first io was found mauka of Kailua-Kona on March 20 with an injured wing. It recovered and has since been released.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the incidents.