MANCHESTER — New Hampshire Operation Game Thief, a nonprofit parter of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who shot and killed a peregrine falcon in a residential area.
On May 5, 2018 a Peregrine Falcon was found dead at a home on Twin Brook Avenue in Salem at approximately 4 p.m. It was identified as a male Peregrine Falcon that was hatched / fledged from Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester in 2012 according to banding records. The falcon died of a single gunshot wound, from a small caliber firearm, that entered the birds breast and passed out the back of the bird. Due to the severity of the wound, death would have been almost immediate and it is not believed the bird traveled a significant distance, according to NHFG. The falcon was x-rayed to determine whether any bullet fragments remained, none were found.
Conservation Officer Chris McKee has gone door to door in the neighborhood attempting to gain additional information that could lead to an arrest. No credible leads have been found to date and it is not known if anyone witnessed the shooting. He continues to make regular stops by these residences until he makes contact with the homeowners.
After consulting with McKee, the Operation Game Thief Board of Directors have issued a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the violator. The board has also established a GoFundMe page (Operation Peregrine Falcon) so the public can contribute to the reward amount if they wish. The public is encouraged to keep updated on the case via OGT’s Facebook page.
As always, the individual is encouraged to turn themselves in to law enforcement to avoid further penalties.
Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Operation Game Thief Hotline at (800) 344-4262 or report online at www.nhogt.org. Callers may remain anonymous if they wish.
The incident remains under active investigation by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dept., US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Salem Police Department.
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