The Province of Ontario wants to add Northern Goshawks to the list of raptors who can be captured from the wild and forced into being sport hunting companions for falconers.
Currently, up to 25 red tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, Sharp shinned hawks, and Merlins can be captured by each falconer every year. The proposal would allow the capture of 5 Northern Goshawks a year too.
Most captured falcons can not voluntarily leave, as they are jessed/leashed or are captured as babies and deliberately imprinted. The birds could be from anywhere in the province, and, if they do fly away, they would not be in their home range and may not survive. It is also illegal to move Wildlife more than 1km without an MNR permit.
We would like the Ontario government to abandon this proposed ERO and ban the practice of capturing raptors for falconry. Wildlife should only be captured if they need rescue, and then the goal should be rehabilitation and release. Wildlife should only be allowed in captivity in a legitimate sanctuary that does not exploit them, if they can not live in the wild due to a disability or imprinting.
Please click on and write to the government via this link. https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1806
