Wildlife service looks into Harmon Reservoir coot, hawk shootings

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for the public's help in trying to find the individual or individuals responsible for killing scores of coots and leaving them near Harmon Reservoir sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The USFWS is also investigating the recent killing of two red-tailed hawks, raptors that frequent the reservoir.

At least 98 coots were shot from the road on at least three occasions, Branden Kieffer, a USFWS law enforcement officer. Although most of the birds were killed, Kieffer said, some that initially survived the shooing had to be euthanized because they were left in freezing water.

"Coots are a migratory bird and protected species," Kieffer said.

Kieffer said the unseasonably warm weather was a factor in the shootings.

"We had a warm spell, and that opened Harmon up," Kieffer said, explaining why the birds migrated to the reservoir.

Then a cold snap occurred, causing most of the reservoir to freeze except for a small patch near the road. As a result, Kieffer said, the coots shifted to the available water and became easy targets. Consequently, the shooter or shooters were able to kill as many as four coots at a time. The irony to the shootings is that they occurred during the legal hunting season.

"The bag limit is 25 per person," Kieffer said. "It's legal to shoot and take, and you must be off the road. You also have to show the intent to bag."

Additionally, Kieffer said, hunters must also possess state and federal hunting and waterfowl licenses and stamps. The hunting season ends later this month.

Kieffer said he is also investigating the deaths of the red-tailed hawks. According to Kieffer, someone left a dead red-tailed hawk with its talons cut off in a box at the Fallon USFWS office. Kieffer said he found the second red-tailed hawk one week ago on the east side of Harmon Reservoir with 12-gauge shotgun casings nearby.

Those who may have information on the killing of the coots or red-tailed hawks are encouraged to call the USFWS Fallon office at 423-5128 or email Branden_Kieffer@fws.gov.